Tuesday 11 oclock, AM. Nov 4th My Dear Mary: I fear you will think I am neglecting you but I am kept so buissy that I have not time to wirte as much to you as I could wish. I wrote one sheet yesterday & might have sent it away this morning but I was not half through with what I had to say. There are so many things taking place every hour, movements of troops &c that might be of interest to you that I feel like I ought to tell you all about it but, have not the time & must content my self with giving you only a few, Just now Co A have returned from the funeral of one of their Co headed by the martial band. There is considerable sickness in our Regiment mostly measels. &. colds. There is quite a large force colecting here at this time I think there are about fifteen thousand here. There are ten thousand on the way from Pilot Knob. I see a large amount of telegraph wire accouterments lieing near a fort they are building here I am told they intend to build forts from here to Virginia & garison them with troops. & conect them by telegraph There are a great many ways by which this rebellion could. be crushed out. But the quickest & most effectual way would be to quarter & subsist. destroy &c all that could be destroyed & confiscate the balance The present manner of conducting the war will not do It is not the purpose of the Rebels to stand or fight but to feint a stand until they get us drawed out on a long & toilsome march, then run. then we have to either hold the position & send for army stores &c or retreat they can carry on such a