Camp Douglas Aug 30 1861

           

Dear Mother I now take the opportunity to write to you I like it first rate part of our company has left yesterday and we will provably will have to stay here some time I dont know how long I dont care I expect I will have to go on guard to morrow I want Ed and Bill Hardy to come up here they wont be sorry but / tell them not to come untill I come after them I expect George Hawk and I will come to gether when we come Sy Nevell and Frank Bennett is comeing I guess but tell them not to go with them If I get some boys I wont have to pay passage on the cars but if I dont I will we will provably will all come home tell Ed to get all the boys to come. I want Ed to send my violin up by express send it to Chicago send it up right away we / boys are all in one tent the Captain Clay stays with us night the officers takes head quarters at our tent we all like it first rate I wrote to Hannah the other day but have had no answer yet we have good times thare is about 1300 here thare is jumping and fighting singing and fiddling and every thing else I am going to write to Father pretty soon there is a fight every day here if a man tells another he lies he can nock him / down and they wont hurt him for it I cant write much more I wrote one before but have no answer yet tell Ed 8 or ten dollars will be all he wants we are all well I must quit write soon from your son J Beach Direct your letter to

 

John Beach

Camp Douglas

Chicago   Ill

In care of Capt Clay

 

If the boys want Ed to come tell him to tell them he will come when I come after him

 

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dont let no body to see this

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