of Lawler or how long would it take to "starve the C S out by guarding their fields of corn & cotton suggar &c.  Their cattle, sheep, goats, geese & chickens &C and never fight them, how long will the rebellion last - But I have learned to day that Gen Canby has his eye on Lawler in particular.  I think (& you know a soldier is supposed to know all about it, that when the Government gets in real earnest and commence on the plan of some of our Generals & keep it up by subsisting as far as posible on the enemy & quit guarding their crops - I have little doubt that the war with all its horrors would soon be over.  But as the mail has gone out and will not likely go for a day or two I will bid you good bye for the present.  I have written to day to Cy.  I hope to get news from soon. 
Monday morning (Augt 29th B Arnolds birth day - a fit time for the enemies of our country to meet in concert to plot treason against the government).  Last night we had a heavy rain had to get into our bunks to keep out of water - Sleeping with so much water in the tent rather wasted me I awoke during the night with a pressure or pain on my breast - I cannot stand the hardship I could a year ago.  Last night I read in the St Louis Democrat a long account of Gen McCork's & Gen Stoneman's great raid south of Atlanta - The 8 Iowa Cav 1st Tenn & 4th Ky composed the advance of McCork's & have nearly all been killed or captured - My mind is in a fever of suspense for the fate of our boy, he may posibly not have gone with the expedition
