thier than infantry.  I should like so much to have you in the 6th, they are ordered now to Sioux City, they will have a healthy atmosphere, & if they are stationed at Ft Randle they will have a delightful location, but I don't suppose there is any use of speculating on that, for you will not likly feel like leaving your regiment, you all seem to be elated at the prospect of soon getting to fight, I suppose that is what the most of you enlisted for, but poor fellows; many of you will have to give your lives as seals to your patriotism, how many, very many go into battle as the unthinking horse, where do you think the thousands of souls that perish in frenzied strife will go?  it has been a subject of deep thought to me.  O! this terrible, terrible, civil war when will it end.  We might answer when God has accomplished his doubtless wise purpose, & not assuredly 'til then, why should we poor shortsighted mortals wonder, doubt & fear when an omnipotent God lives & rules the universe; & will make the "wrath of men to praise him".  It is growing late & I must hasten;  Austin was down today & gave me a very pressing invitation to come up & stay a week with them; I think of going up tomorrow; Mr. Lamb was over today after a girl & to take May Jane over, they have a young son over there nothing strange for them is it?  He seemed as much pleased as if it was the first.  Mr. & Mrs. Hawthorn are here visiting, they start home in the morning, he is a real old copperhead of the Mahony kind, I don't see how he & Stuart get along as well as they do.  Mrs. Hawthorn is quite a fine woman, she is Jennie's stepmother, O! that name jars on my ears so, I don't hardly know why, but I do dislike so much to hear it.  Frank Fredric was down today to get the things that Corwin sent, they all came safely, but the expressage was enormously high, 3.75.  You would have been amused if you could have looked in when we unpacked the goods, we were real foolish we put the caps on our heads and the mittins on our hands, & May Jane said she was going to sleep under Marions blanket that night.  I looked over the letters & found the picture, I wont say likines. I dont wonder that you did not know it, I wish I could send you as true an one as yours is, I have filed all your letters & mine, we will have a rich time looking over them sometime I hope.  It is growing late & I
