Cambrige City Feb 24^th 1890

 

Jacob Widaman          sir

                        your^s of Feb 20^th 90

just came to hand and read and I will do the best I can in the first place you will remember when we was at Georgetown Mo in Oct 1861 we Camp on the south side and East of us was a house on a hill in the cellar of that house was the spring and there was a pipe leading the watter down the hill East where there was another cellar and that was where we got the Watter to use do you remember that the man who owend said house came into camp and showed himself to be a good un loyal man and after the watter was poisend he was arrested and searched there was paper^s fond found on him showing him to be an/ officer in the Rebel army. it was at this time that the boys were taken sick by hundreds and the docter^s Coud not tell what was the matter untill they were sick themselves and ther they dug up the drain from the house to the foot of the hill and found the poison in it done up in some papers and rags. and if you remember that caused us to taken to Sedalia that day some 250 men of 8^th were left at Georgetown I did not come in to camp till the next day we laid 2 weaks I was under the docter^s care all this time. I made the springfield trip and back to otterville with you then if you remember we Commenced clearing of our winter quarters and the last weak in November we started on that Warrenburgh scout and captured 1700 Rebbells the 8^th was detailed to gaurd them back to Sedalia it sleeted and snowed all day. when we went into our winter quarters at Otterville about the 20^th december 1861 I was taken sick a again with/ from the effects of the poison was sick from that time untill after you there in febuary 62. you told me that when I was first taken sick at Otterville that I was crazy as a loon and did not know anything or any body for 3 days and that you staid with me all that time I also know that the first thing that I remember was you standing over me trying to give me some medicine. I never any more untill I Come into Camp at pearidge on sunday ater the batle. I said with with you untill we got to hellen Arksas from there I sent up to st louis to the hospital was there 7 weeks th next time I Came to the Co was obut about 30 miles south of Pilot knob Mo I never done any duty from pearige until I was discharge at allen hall Mo dr Biglow often said the was/ Poissond at Gorgetown Mo. that is all I can think of now if I could see you for 15 minutes I tell more than I could write in one day

 

                                                                                    your in F  C and L

                                                                                    Rodney M^cClave

 

Can you come in this fall to our Reuion let me know

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