Saracruse Mo Nov ^the 18, 1861

 

Dear father this morning finds me in the best of health and I hope when those few lines comes to hand the will find you all injoying the best of health well father I have nothing of importance to write to you we are on our way back to St louis we will take the Cars at this place in a few days for St louis we will take up winter quarters thare if we dont go south. we have bin a traveling about a good deal over the state we have martched 200 and 50 miles in the last 4 weeks we followed old price to Springfield and then our division turned back

 

thare is a good deal of sickness among the soldiers and a good many of them has died

 

we will get a new suite of Cloths in a few days and our / monney we have drawed our Over Coats tha are the bigest and the ugliest things I ever saw but tha are very warm and comfortable. it has bin the prettyest fall I ever saw thare has bin no rain for the last 4 well weeks and but a few light frost it has bin a plesant fall on the soldiers.

 

well father I would like very well to come over a Christmast and take dinner with you but it is mixed a good deal with doubts whether I do or not I have bin a driving a team for the last 4 weeks but I have give the team up it is two hard work for me so I will sholdier my musket againe. well father I want you to write to me as soon as you get this I want to know how you are a getting along with your work and how times is 

 

Direct your letters to

 

            St Louis, Mo.

            your affectionate Son

                        Joseph Taylor

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