Decer

Camp Near Sedalia Sunday

 

Dear Brother & Sister

                        I suppose you have heard ere this of my return to Mo I have been in camp over a week I find it purty hard to come down to a soldier's fare again after being away so long but I guess I will get used to it after while My health has been very good since I left home and hope that it will continue so at least through the winter tho there will be a great amt of suffering among the Western troops this winter if they are not better provided for than they are at present. We are suffering / a great deal with the cold Yesterday it snowed all day and last night and this morning the ground is covered with near one foot of snow and very cold. I tell you it is cold liveing in canvass houses such weather last night I sat up over a pile of coals till after midnight trying to keep warm but all for no use. We purpose going back to Otterville in a few days to build our winter quarters after giveing old Price another trial he is reported to be at Oceola about 60 miles from Sedalia with from 10 to 12,000 men in a very destitute condition I think we have got him in a / pretty tight place as we have our forces all around him. Genl Pope made quite a bold move with his division a few days ago. there was intelligence brought to our camp of a body of Rebels haveing left Lexington to join Price he was ordered to march out and intercept them and for once our troops were successfull in Mo they captured about 1,300 prisoners among which are three Cols & 17 Capts besides 1,000 horses and mules 65 wagons and over two tons of powder our loss was two killed and eight wounded two of which have died of their wounds since the affair has raised the spirits / of what few Union men there is in this vicinity to a very great extent and think one more bold move on Price will end the war in Mo. The prisoners were brought through our camp to day to Sedalia to take the cars for St Louis. they were a hard looking set I tell you a great many of them were armed with No 8 muskets, and had US belts on them, taken from our men at the battle of Lexington I presume they feel quite different now from what they did then. I would like to have the shooting of about one half of them. to show how they feel toward us there was one of the number had on a US belt he was asked by our Left were he got it, he replied of a damned Union Dutchman that he shot at the battle of Springfield how I would have liked to of had the handling of him about five minutes (I would I think made him think of his friends at home) But my sheet is full so I must close

 

Write soon as ever your affect Brother

George

 

Address Co K 15 Reg Ills Vols

                        via St Louis

 

[front margin upside down]

 

Co K 15 Reg Ills Vols

via St Louis

Mo

 

[front bottom margin]  Answered Dec 31, 1861

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