why if we were to leave the state & abandon the whole of S.E. Mo, to day from Pilot Knob & Rolla & all south of the Ozark Mts the Rebels could not stay here only to rove about, & eat out the substance of the country what little there is & who would that hurt but Rebels for there are none others here & what damage it be to our cause?  I know that such statements will not be gratifying to you for I know that when you gave up your husband to the service of our country you thought you were giving a man whose arm was strong. & whole heart was in the cause & one who would strike for his country.  My Dear girl your sacrifices are in vain if this war is to be carried on as I have seen it so far.  But I think each time that I write any thing about the war or give you my views that I will not do so again, but it has got to be such an intolerable bore to me & our Regiments are nearly all the same way that I cannot help expressing my contempt for the way things are carried on.  I have heard a number of the best men in the Reg say within the last few weeks (well I must stop right here & give you an incident.  I am sitting on the side of a mt & some boys & dogs started a rabit on the hill it came Jumping down at full speed & sprang against my my side, it made me fairly grunt it fell & Jumped around, but before I could catch it it ran away) that if they had have had any idea of the way we would have been treated & to no good effect, but the reverse, & only to keep up a set of government swindlers that they never would have enlisted, neither would I.  Yes my Dearest well as I love my country & it old flag, I cannot but regret that fatal day on which I enlisted, will you my own dearest think less of me for this frank acknowledgement, will you?  be frank with me.  I do not know where or when we go from here, but there is one thing that you may be sure of, that no matter  what may come I will never do any thing that ought to make my wife's cheek blush with shame we are under a noble Commander (our Col) my honor is bound up with that of the 23rd its destiny shall be mine, if we have an opportunity I know that we can sustain the reputation of Iowa soldiers but it is now nearly time I was going on guard & I must scratch away fast or send you blank paper. Marion rec 3 letters to day & Billy one all I believe from home.  I had not time to learn any thing they contained only from Billy, that Capt Roach was lying verry low at home.  Marion had to go out on a foraging expedition he took his with before
