considerable anxiety; and these letters, although very welcome, do not relieve it; for in yours of the 9th you had started out on a march for the doomed city, and 'tis now nearly three weeks since it was written, and O! what sad havoc death may have made of my hopes ere this time, the All-seeing eye only knows, I never have felt so on hearing of you starting on an expedition as I did last night; I could hardly keep the tears back) till I went to bed, Mother asked me twice if there was any bad news in your letters; but as you know, I am ever hopeful, and this morning I feel more like trusting to the guidance, of the All-wise, who has ever been merciful to us, in all his dealing's. Father, Austin and Emma and Harriet were up to DesMoines yesterday, and we got letters from both Stuart and Libbie; Stuarts are settled again, and in their own house.  Libbie writes me that Ellison has been promoted to a Captaincy in Co "F", 3rd U.S. Vol., and has gone to Levenworth, Kansas, where his regiment is stationed;  He is a man of integrity and capability, and will be appreciated, by high officials who chance to possess the former quality, which by the way, I notice is at a great discount in this government at present.  Libbie also wrote me that Ellison designed going down
