look cheered others, look at the idea as vain, & appear to think it very foolish in me to talk about being at home by the 3rd of July, so as to go up to Des Moines to take dinner the 4th.  I do not know how these speculations will come out, but you know there is always a bright side to every thing, & it is Just as well & more healthy to live in bright sunshine than to grope our way in darkness.  But I am running away on subjects foreign from home affairs.  You must not think from this that my mind is entirely taken up the scenes around me no my Dearest even while my pen is occupied in taking down these items, my mind will run away to Iowa where my loved ones are looking for any "token" that indicates the return of peace when I can again return to the bosom of my dear family & friends.  When I shall have no need to learn the barbarous arts of war any more & when we can again settle down & be disturbed by no more by the clangor of arms. & then I promise you that no such cruel separation shall ever take place until that "King of terrors shall speak whose voice must be heard.  The boys are waiting for me to get up so as to set the table for dinner, for we have dinner even in the army & we have a board for a table.
 Well dinner is over.  We have what we call dinner every day about noon.  I do not know what you might call it if analized, it usually consists of coffee, hard crackers, & bacon, sometimes we vary it so as to have bacon & coffee & crackers. & there again we try crackers & bacon & coffee.  Sometimes we break up the crackers & put in a pan & pour some water on them & stew them awhile until they get soft & put in a
