Head quarters 23rd Iowa Infatry Sat Oct 18th /62  near Pattrson Wayne Co. MO 30 ms. S.E. of Ironton  
My Dearest Mary: I embrace another opprtunty of writing to you. You will see from the heading of my letter that we are still working south I am in the best of health, in fact the most of the regiment are enjoying good health & fine spirits. they all endure the hardships incident to camp life like soldiers I think we are a No one regiment.  We have some officers I shall respect & esteem while they & I shall live And among them I would mention in particulor Capt Roach & Lieut Henry Capt Roach's men have had measels to a considerable extent. At Ironton he took posession of a good house with sword in hand for his sick.  & on the march down here he pressed a wagon & two yoke of oxen into service to draw his knapsacks & last night when we came into camp without tents (except his Co.) and without anything to eat he & his men killed a two year old beef
