On board the Minehaha

fifty miles above Cairo          

June 6^th 1863

 

Dear Beloved Wife

                        I have been taking a nap of sleep & feel rested so I will try to give you a sketch of events since we left Rolla though the old boat shakes so I can hardly write now but perhaps you can decipher my crooked marks We left camp on the morning of the 3d left camp at 5 oc & got to near Rolla about 10 after rather a pleasant march to most of the men we halted 2 miles out where the men stay until near night so as to keep them from getting liquor but many of them got in by one excuse and another & many of both officers & men got drunk / I was verry tired & came in to rest but run around on business all day or until I was worn out then I quit The 20 Wisconsin Reg got on the cars & started about night One of Co A. men of 94 was drunk got on the cars with them & after going about 20 miles fell under the cars & was cut into at the heart & one arm cut off one man killed that is all another victim of liquor. We got started about 10 oclock & got to St Louis about 11 next day no accident hapening strange to say the weather was beautiful Lieut Howell Johnson & myself made our bed on the floor of an open car & lay there all knight so tight together that we had to get up to turn over almost did not sleep much our train was so heavy that we often stalled & had to run / back & start again to get up on getting to depot we threw around a guard so no one was to go out with out a pass & signed by the Col but some companies were soon ½ out ours we kept to gether quite well only passing such as we knew would come back though our company was one of the guard companies there we stay until near night when the ladies of the Union League sent to ask the Colonel to accept coffee & cakes for the men which was freely given & thankfully received as the boys testifyed by 3 harty cheers as I ever heard them give Then Gen Brown was introduced the one I told you I was introduced to & received his thanks for the part I took in the Springfield fight, then we marched to the river but evry company / but ours was many of them drunk some had to be led by the arms oh what low bruits men make them selvs they are not made so blessed is the mother that bear not a son or I may say a daughter either then they never know no sorrow on their account If I ever get home (which I feel I shall) I surely can appreciate our loneliness Need I say to you I can & will pass through the firey ordeal unscathed & should I die I shall be in my right senses & without guilt of crime what ever other short comings I may have had in past years I feel I am better now than I ever was so far as morals are concerned Well to my narative we expected our boat down by 10 Oc at night to go on but instead of that she did not come until the next day we all lay on the stone pavement all night I slept moderately well & the next morning eat a harty breakfast and after breakfast 6 of us eat a gallon of strawberries in milk & sugar / Now do you not think that pretty harty for me we did not get the men on the boat until about 5 oc but what a scene still followed many were so drunk they had to be led on board by 2 men others had to be hauled down on carts others were noisy drunk & others in all stages from Capt to privates I assure you I felt badly at such a sight The drunk man gets of som rich jokes yet they do not repay anything for the danger still no accident happened in all the mater The officers got all the cabins & staterooms & the men had to take any chance they could get in top of boat below & on the guards to sleep they all seem lively but much dissatisfaction exists on account of difference made between us they say men & straps I have seen a Capt dared to fight a private well enough of this We are sailing along as well as could be expected & I am personally quite comfortable or rather warm if any thing I have but little appetite to eat to any amount not hardly 2 meals per day They set a table on the boat & charge 50 cts per meal for all that eat & not verry good at that but that is about the only chance but where men are getting their $3 to 8.00 dollars per day they can afford it & perhaps their wives may take the easiest plan to make their money who could blame them when their men revel in all kinds of debauchery this only apply to a few I am happy to say I believe I told you I sent you 130 or 140 dollars / by Mrs McNulta I did not see Mrs Kent at the time Mrs Kent is a noble woman a fit associate for my wife But one thing I must guard you against her which is this She thinks I am much worse than I am & will tell you so but I assure you I am in no danger from any ailment I now have So do not be uneasy on account of my health. you know I must wait a fair time for things to develop It does not do to be in haste to make things sure & I know you would prefer a sure thing to an uncertainty even if there is a little risk when that risk is for my country what I came for so do not keep your mind on me but seek other employ & so to to enjoy / & pleas the mind & make life as tolerable as possible that is your duty & what I ask Others beside Mrs Kent will tell you I look badly but you can judg from the fact I weigh 153 lbs yet that is not bad you know for me I fear you will not be able to read this letter verry well as the boat shakes so I cant write well but time will decipher most of it to you I said all our Company come on but I was mistaken Myron Philips & William Kent was left they had gone off & did not get back until we had pushed of to far Major Briscoe was left to bring up all straglers that could be found I do not think of any thing more to wright at present only we are on the flag boat as it contains Gen Orme & his staff officers So you see we hold the post of honor in the line but perhaps this is no special honor as we are on the slowest boat there is or the hindmost one at least now I will close & will start another at Memphis or try so good by with my Respects to all my Love to you         

O Barnard

 

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I send you a lock of hair by your request

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