Belleville St Clair Co

                                                                                                                                    Ills

                                                                                                            Sunday Sept 7^th 1862

 

Dear Wife

                        I am in camp in the fair ground in the out edge of the city. We have fixed up our quarters and got the best in camp we took the boards off of the fence of the fair grounds I am verry well satisfied I expect likely we will leave here this next week and go to chester we dont know positively we sleep in our bunks and march up to our meals it is nip and tuck who gets to the table first I have been lucky enough to be in first every time but once that was the night we came in We had a general / row to day at dinner the orderly sargeant Powell and the second Lieutenant Wm Harnard went to the tavern and had their dinners fixed up and sat down to eat and left the privates in the bar room to wait until three oclock The men found out what they were at and talked about it pretty rough the orderly immediately ordered dinner for the men and apologised verry politely how it will result is hard to tell the men talk about having anew election tomorrow for those two offices. I went to church to day at the catholic church the performances are beyond description and supremely ridiculous I expect to go / to the Episcopalian church to night our Colonel has gone to springfield to day after two companies that run away from him it verry uncertain about his getting them. If you get that money from your uncle William this week I would like for you to send me about three dollars as it is verry uncertain when we will be paid off when we are I will send you some more money Belleville is a city 4 times as large as I thought it was We have a first rate mess. the are Saml Henry Ben Garret Fred Garret Saml Mayfield Thomas Ralph George Palmer Louis Nichols Saml & Wm Balch Thomas Savage John Mires John Floyd and H. B. Drake. every man in the mess is willing to do his share of work we will commence to drill to day when I have time / I will write to you will give you a description of Belleville and surrounding country The most of the boys had to walk from ofallon station to Bellville 7 miles I was fortunate enough to ride about five miles When you answer this give all particulars how Eddy & Mar are getting along Direct your letter to H B Drake Bellevill Ils 130^th Reg Col Niles I will have to quit as the companys are coming from breakfast and are going to drill I will send this letter by mr Hutchinson I am well satisfied do as you may think best about making a sale Nothing more But remain Your affectionate Husband until death

 

I expect we will go to chester this week

                                                                        H. B. Drake

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