Jefferson Barracks Sep^t Oc^t 1^st 64

 

                                                            Dear Brother

                                                                                    It is with I pick up my pen again to write you a few things in the first place I am not very wel but do my duty I received a from John Hayes to day he is well at the time of writeing he is at Morgangia Bend La but expects to go to New Orleans or Baton Rouge before long He received orders to march this morning at 7 oclock We got up at 5 it was raining quite hard when we got up we were ready to march at 7 and stayed so untill 10 oclock at night it rained nearly all day just fancy what a pleasent time we had camp all tore up ready to move did not dare to go away atall if we had had any place to go we had to stand to horse all day and at night go to bed in wet blankets 2^nd we were ordered to march at day light we marched at nine oclock marched about 15 miles the country through which we passed was very nice and inhabited by the dutch every thing was plenty and for sale too of course we would not take with out buying because they were loyal people and in a loyal country too we had catenured[?] roads to travel over the most of the way 3 we marched again to day the country is very nice along our road by whi along which we travel apples are quite plenty it is the finest country I believe I ever saw and inhabited by the dutch and well cultivated/

 

4^th we marched again as usuall and through arougher country I donot wish to travel through and very few inhabitants and still they are dutch it rained all day nearly we went into camp about noon at Gray Summit a town of two houses a blacksmith shop and a grocery a very nice town indeed the rebs were here last saturday and burned the depot and that was a bout all the damage they done and then left they are pressing the mulishia through here 5^th we are in camp to day at Gray Summit and I thought I would improve the time by writeing a little for you I must write to John Hayes to day last night was a cold one I tell you and with wet blankets too I do not know which way we will go from here 7^th We marched from Summit and about 5 oclock marched out of camp aways and laid around all day marching aways ahead and then back killing time like as if we were watching for somebody untill about 5 oclock and then we started off and marched 12 miles We had some State Mulishia with us and thay all carried awagon load of stuff with them 8^th we marched a head again to day through some of the most God fersaken looking country you ever saw we marched 30 miles We had to do it to get water we left the mulishia about 15 miles in the rear and had to wait for them all the next day which was sunday and when they did come up Smith sent/ them back and would not have them along There was some beatiful scenery yet on the summits of some of the high hills we had to pass over and look just as far as the sight of the eye would reach in some places you would see nothing but a succession of wooded hills while in others you could see beatiful valeys dotted with farms just as far as you could see with a small river picking its winding way through among the lesser hills We have been follow old prices track since we left Grey Summit his troops were all mounted but for all that we againing on him 10^th Feeling somewhat rested after our days rest I think we can do some responcible marching to day We have about 3 days march between us and Jefferson City We march about 20 miles and camp on the Gasconade river one of the most beatiful streams I ever saw We had to ford the river it was quite wide but not very deep it was fun to see the infantry plunge into it our battery boys all rode across on the guns and caissons 12^th I will pass the 11^th by and say nothing about We started out of camp by the by light of the stars this morning 4 of our guns started on ahead with the cavalry we marched into Jefferson City a distance of 21 miles by two oclock we crossed the Osage river about 10 oclock AM we went into camp at Jeff City and stayed there untill about 7 oclock and then/ hitched up and marched down to the depot and loaded on to the cars and traveled out 25 miles and unloaded again making for our march for to day about 45 miles we are now about 175 miles from Jefferson barracks where you will see by the heading of this letter the first of this month we have laid over 3 days of that time making an average of about 20 miles for each day we marched We are now in California a small town away down here on the Pacific railroad and Rice is reported to be in boonville and fortifying there if he is we will capture him or most of his men Boonville is 18 miles from here I donot know how far we will follow him if he gets away from where he is now nor I donot care if its into Mexico or across the Istmas We are comeing into Prairie country now I receive a letter from Phillip the day we left Gray Summit he was well Jefferson City is nothing but a small one horse town of but little importance only as a capital the capitol is the only decent building in the town and that is nothing extra for a state house            California Oct 16^th

 

            Dear brother                I received your letter this morning I glad to hear that you was in tolerable good health My health is not as good as it might be if I was well I am troubled with the same old disease of last year that came some near ending my

 

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