Lyle Sept 26th No 1 Keokuk Sep 26t 1862 My Dear Mary: I am sitting in the shade of a tent trying to write you a few lines. I should like to say a great many things but how can I compose my mind enough to write to you amid such scenes of confusion. There are a a great many sick & wounded here, all over the citty. some on crutches with crooked limbs There are three hospitals here I visited one yesterday, it appeared to be kept verry well. The floors were washed & rubed clean every thing was neat airy & comfortable. We expect to start for St. Louis tomorrow or some place south I do not know where There are two regiments here besides the 23 (from Des Moines Valley) They look like stout & rugged fellows. There was one regiment at Oskaloosa. They all are in the finest of spirits 
