Lyle Jan 24th 
No 16. Alton or (Aldon) Oregon Co Mo Jan 24 1863
 My Dearest Mary:  Last night I received your precious letters of the 4th & 6th inst.  They found me enjoying my usual good health, how cheering are such epistles from a devoted wife, while reading your letters I am always thrilled with delight at the thought that Ii who am trying to fill the place of a soldier have such a devoted & true hearted wife at home who can sympathise with me in all my hardships & disappointments.  Yes my Dearest I read your letters with a conscious pride.  You enjoy the right spirit, I have enjoyed myself verry well for a week or two, I had a conversation with Col Kinsman on the way to this place, he told me that it was his opinion that we would form a Junction with Fitz Henry Warren who is in command of about five thousand troops in Arkansas & that we would likely form another Junction with Herron & Blunt & then march on Little Rock with force sufficient to take the place & further that we would pass from under the command of Gen Davidson who we detest, for his tyrany
