Camp Herron

Davenport, Sept. 1 1862

My Dear Wife:

Wee left Clinton this morning at two oclock, went on board the boats and arrived here at about 9 oclock this morning. This is a much better camp ground than we had at Clinton. That was a low flat piece of land near the river bank, this is on a high bluff and surrounded by a grove. I do not know how long we shall stay here. I think we shall not stay here but a few days but we may be here a number of weeks. I shall expect to hear from you when Finian gets back. I should probably have seen him tonight if we had not left Clinton but he will not get here before tomorrow noon, when he comes I will finish this It is getting dark to write so I will close by saying, Good Night Sarah.

Tuesday morning Sept. 2 1862

We are all well and hearty this morning. George is now our cook, you had better believe that it is done up in order. I have just got done helping him scour knives and forks. I expect we will leave here tomorrow. I shall write to you when we leave I cannot tell you where we will go. Your will direct your letter

A. P. Mitchell,

Davenport, Iowa.

Care of Co, H. 20th Regiment Iowa Volunteers

direct as above described and I shall get it where ever I may be.

The postmaster will know where the Regiment is. I must leave now.

I am on guard today. I have to stand. I am on guard two hours and am off four hours, that only lasts twenty four hours and then I shall not have it to do again for about two weeks.

Tuesday afternoon:

I have made up my mind that I shall not hear from you today. Finian does not seem to get back. Hewill probably not get here until dark and then it will be too late to mail my letter so I will draw this to a close and write again when he comes if I have a chance. We may leave here before I have a chance to write again. I was very pleased to hear that the baby gets along so well. Sarah it is great comfort to me to know that you will take the best of care of her. I know she will have all your attention. Sarah, I want you to see some doctor and find out what ails your side. I ought to have attended to it when I was at home but you know I am very negligent.

Friday afternoon

Sept. 4 1862

I have a few minutes that I cannot occupy in any better way than conversing with you through this silent medium. Sarah it is a great blessing to us to be enabled to convey our ideas to each other in this feeble way. When we are obliged, as we now are, to seperated and I hope that neither of us will neglect to improve every opportunity. I suppose you will not get my last letter before next Saturday. I shall send this by Frank Davis. He is a son of old man Davis and will go directly there. I went out to town yesterday to get a picture taken but could not get it done to my satisfaction. I shall get one the first chance. We are having very warm weather, we have had but one shower of rain since we left home. I wish I could send you some of the apples we have here; we have any amount of them. We are all enjoying good health. The boys have just brought in the largest melon I have ever saw but I will not indulge in luxuries for I do not think it is healthy. George is getting supper. I wish you could stand and look at him, he does it first rate. Laurant is head cook, George and Cyril Clark work with him.

I do not know what will be done with that wheat, it ought to be stirred up occasionally to prevent it from getting musty. When wheat gets to be worth anything you must try to get it cleaned up and hauled to Marion, that is, all you think can be spared. I have just heard that there is a prospect of trouble with the Indians in this state. I do not know what to a say to you concerning it. I expect it is false, if it is so I do not what you will do, if it is so, you had better take the money I sent you and go to N.H. and Maine immediately.

They nave been committing their depredations in Minnesota. If you think best to go east and have not got money enough, borrow some and I will send it to pay. I could send five dollars now if I knew you would want it.

August 20, 1862

Dear Wife,

I have prepared paper and pencil to spend a few words to let you know that we arrived here Monday at about sunset, camped with the other companies that night. We now have a camp of our own. It is a building forty feet long and sixteen wide with berths on the side. We sleep warm and dry and have aplenty to eat and good enough. Fresh beef, ham pork & beans, rice, coffee and sugar and plenty of it. I think it doubtful whether I get a furlow to come home. I shall if I can. There is twelve hundred men here and more acoming every day. We shall probably eave here in about two weeks. It is supposed that we shall go Davenport, Iowa. Peryy and Whitten I suppose are rejected and will probably be at home by Saturday next. Laurant, Finian, Cyril Clark and Bill Sawyer are our cooks There is a Dagarian artist here and I will have my picture taken and send it home soon.

We have not got our uniforms yet, shall have it this week I expect. We have to wait for the movements of UNCLE SAM. I shall write again soon. You need answer this unless necessary because we are not organized yet and I cannot tell you how to direct your letter. The boys are all in good spirits, it is almost impossible to be otherwise. You must keep up good spirits in yourself as well as you possible can. The roll is called and I must close. Perry and Whitten have started for home, you will hear from us by them. George will write tomorrow you will perhaps find out from him how to direct a letter. I must close and answer to my name.

A.P. Mitchell

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