Camp Dodge Iowa

Nov 26^th A.D. 1862

 

            Esteemed friend, Yours of 14^th came to hand a few days ago and the contents of it were read by me with the greatest pleasure. in reading it my thoughts wandered again to scenes of other years and one sentence in particular impressed those scenes very forcibly upon my mind, and that was in reference to our old spelling matches those days are yet fresh in my memory and I expect they always will be. Yet I dont think that I ever saw as good spelling matches in Indiana as I have seen since I came to the State of Iowa for out here there is at times an excitement arises that assumes to such a pitch as is seldom equaled in any other place I dont care where it is And I can say without bragging or boasting that I have never seen but one individual in the last five years that I would acknowledge to be my equal when it came to spelling / although there are many who are far my superior perhaps in other branches of education We have spelt in the dictionary for the last few years and during that time there has been considerable strife between the schools of the different districts, and once a little more than a year ago there was a spelling match between our own County and the one joining ours on the right East. The challenge was made by them and we accepted it and we met at a school house about four miles from where I live, and about ¼ of a mile from the county line. We had one week to prepare for the first night and that time we were fairly beaten by them and acknowledged it freely. Then we had another week to prepare for the next one, and that time we came out best Then we had two weeks to prepare for the for the third and last round The excitement by this time was very high we were to decide the matter one way or the other / this time and we were emulated to the task from the fact that we were spelling against a party that boasted that they had never been beaten, and they were anxious to maintain their fair reputation in that line, and you may be assured that we all done our best to prepare for the last and decisive struggle at last the appointed time rolled round and we met at the appointed place, but we could not decide the matter in favor of either party and so after spelling until we were all completely tired out and we agreed to quit and call it an even game We had to do so although I for one didn't much like to as I wanted either to beat or be beaten but they said to our credit that we were the best spellers that they ever came across but such things dont interest me now as much as it did a year or two ago when I taught school, for then I took pride in having my pupils as good as the scholars of other schools but now I am a pupil again but it is to learn the principles of war and how to shoot secesh if so be that that I ever get down to the land of Dixie / the place where they abound in abundance. but if the liberty was only granted to the regt they would just try their hands on a few sesesh that reside in the Bluffs. in fact there are a majority of the folks residing in this place that are sympathisers with the south, and one of the num store keepers made use of some remarks that were strongly tinted with traitorous sentiments to one of the captains in this regt and last night he took his company of men up to the town to clean out his establishment but after he got there the Colonel either accidentally or purposely came along where he was and and persuaded him not to interrupt him at that time but to telegraph to the Gov. of the State and have him arrested so he brought his men back to the camp and telegraphed to the Gov as he was advised to do but as yet we do not know how it will terminate, but if the right directions are received we will do for the gentleman frightfully. We are all very anxious to leave here and go down south, for they think they are not doing anything here where we are and to tell the truth we are not doing much but we are not well enough drilled to go into active service yet for a while although we have been in the service long enough. we have not made as rapid improvement perhaps as we ought to have done, but I am inclined to believe that the fault is not with the soldiers but the officers are responsible for all that we dont do as well as for the things that they do, but whether we go or stay I think we are seeing much better times here than we will after we leave here and have to perform some of those forced marches that some have to perform but I dont much / believe from the little experience that I have had in a soldiers life that it is their nature to be contented with their condition no matter how comfortably they are situated if they have to remain in one place any length of time, but put them on the march and they are much better satisfied at least this is the testimony of nearly all that I have conversed with upon the subject and I know it is the case in regard to our regt that is in quarters now at this place I presume you have heard your Cousin Robert speak of my brother William who is in the Iowa 4^th My brother has mentioned Roberts name several times in his letters that he wrote home.

 

The weather since I wrote to you before has for the most part been delightful but we have had two or three days that were a little blustery but that is nothing more than what we might naturally expect in this country and at this season of the year. I think we have been greatly favored with nice weather here this fall /

 

Now I have a few requisitions to make of you and then I will close It is concerning some of my old school mates that were once my friends but whom I have heard nothing of for years The first one I shall inquire about is Andrew Miller of West Union. He was a regular correspondent of mine for about four years after I removed to Iowa but since that time I have received no word from him and I want you to tell me what has become of Simeon M^cray His brother Richard did live in Jasper Co in this state a year or so ago but I dont know whether he lives there yet or not also about the Royster boys bill and Charley Royster passed through our place twice on their road to Pikes Peak and back but I did not get to see them And I want you to write what the Holmes family have come to as I know nothing of any of them only that I heard that Jeremiah was dead

 

I want you to write what has become of the Worman family also what the Van boys are doing and tell me who Lucinda Martin married and what kind of a match she made when she got married And also what has become of old man Martin

 

Now just to cut the matter short I want you to write any and all the news that you think will be of interest to me and I have no doubt but it will but it will be interesting to me And now if you think I am too inquisitive and ask too many questions I would just say that is the way I get my information and under these circumstances I hope you will oblige me by answering each and every one of my questions singly Now if you please just write and tell me all that I have asked you to tell me and guess at the rest that I want to know Give my respects to those of my acquaintance that you may see and especially to your own family You must excuse my bad writing as I have nothing to write on but a shingle laid on my knee for a writing desk. Nothing more at present but to bid you good by. write soon and oblige your      friend  Geo Campbell

 

Gabriella Conarroe                                                                        

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