You will excuse me if my ideas are somewhat confused & if this should be badly written. I am anxious to write to you & I have not much time to do it in, as I did not commence until after supper. I have to be up & take the cars in the morning at six, & have eat nothing since yesterday morning before day, except hard bread & raw ham, two apples, & five cts worth of cheese, until since dark this evening. I had a good supper, & left Camp Patterson with 50 cts, I bought three little song books this afternoon that I intended to present one to Cyrus one to May & the other to Ida, I sent them by Mr Lyon, to Mr Birds, will you get them and present them in my name, It is a small gift but tell them each that it is a token of affection. I have two little ten cent shinplasters left, & but little prospect of "payday". It has been a source of annoyance to me for some time, that we were receiving no pay, I am afraid you will need some funds. You know I left nine dollars per month for you to draw at the State Bank I suppose of course you have not received any yet. If you have or if the hogs are sold & you could spare it I would be glad if you could send me 5.00 with Mr Lyon or some other reliable man, it would procure me many little comforts. But now my dear wife do not trouble yourself about me for I have the verry best of health, good spirits. I am sometimes disappointed, & I thought I could have an opportunity of talking it all over with you. O it is so bad isnt it? I can hardly realize the disappointment yet, but it is so. The steamer is away up the River. I am to realize the disappointment. by going back at R R Speed in the morning to Join my Regiment, away down in S E MO. O my own Dear little Mary it grieves me. I could shed tears over it, I almost know you will
