I have just received yours and Mary's letters and really did not know
that I had been so negligent as not to have written to you before. I
did write from Camp Yates, but since receiving yours remember that I
did not get to finish it at the time, and have neglected it since. The
fact is that since I took command of this regiment I have had no spare
time, and flatter myself, and believe I am sustained in my judgment by
my officers and men, that I have done as much for the improvement and
efficiency of this regiment as was ever done for a command in the same
length of time.--You will see that I am in Missouri. Yesterday I went
out as far as Palmyra and stationed my regiment along the railroad for
the protection of the bridges, trestle work, etc. The day before I
sent a small command, all I could spare, to relieve Colonel Smith who
was surrounded by secessionists. He effected his relief, however,
before they got there. To-morrow I start for Monroe, where I shall fall
in with Colonel Palmer and one company of horse and two pieces of
artillery. One regiment and a battalion of infantry will move on to
Mexico, North Missouri road, and all of us together will try to nab
the notorious Tom Harris with his 1200 secessionists. His men are
mounted, and I have but little faith in getting many of them. The
notorious Jim Green who was let off on his parole of honor but a few
days ago, has gone towards them with a strong company well armed. If
he is caught it will prove bad work for him.
You no doubt saw from the papers that I started to march across the
country for Quincy. My men behaved admirably, and the lesson has been
a good one for them. They can now go into camp after a day's march
with as much promptness as veteran troops; they can strike their tents
and be on the march with equal celerity. At the Illinois River, I
received a dispatch at eleven o'clock at night that a train of cars
would arrive at half past eleven to move my regiment. All the men were
of course asleep, but I had the drum beaten, and in forty minutes
every tent and all the baggage was at the water's edge ready to put
aboard the ferry to cross the river.
I will try to keep you posted from time to time, by writing either to
you or to Mary, of my whereabouts and what I am doing. I hope you will
have only a good account of me and the command under my charge. I
assure you my heart is in the cause I have espoused, and however I may
have disliked party Republicanism there has never been a day that I
would not have taken up arms for a Constitutional Administration.
You ask if I should not like to go in the regular army. I should not.
I want to bring my children up to useful employment, and in the army
the chance is poor. There is at least the same objection that you find
where slavery exists. Fred. has been with me until yesterday; I sent
him home on a boat.
Yours &c.