Sarah E. Mitchell

Saturday afternoon

13 Sept.

I have nothing to do today thus far and I haven't anything in particular to write about. I will give you a few items of what is going on here. In one corner there is a group of six or eight playing cards, others are oiling their guns, some are singing songs, one is fiddling and some are dancing, some sing hymns, some are eating apples, peaches and pears, the cooks are washing the dishes, some are black-guarding each other.

There was eleven Contrabands came into camp this morning. The old darky and wife and nine young ones. They say they ran away from their master. It is quite a curiosity to look at them, they are as black as tar and I should think there was about a years difference in their ages.

Rolla, Mo.

Sept. 15 1862

Dear Wife:

We left St. Louis yesterday at about 11 oclock, took the cars and started. We had a very pleasant voyage although the Country through which we passed was nothing very inviting. The land on the road is nothing but Barrons and Scrub Oak timber. The bridges on the road are all guarded by Soldiers to prevent the Rebbels from burning or tearing them up. We arrived here about 9 oclock last night, our baggage train was behind and we were obliged to take the bare ground for our bed and the open heavens for our covering. It was quite warm and pleasant and we camped down for the night but we had hardly got to snoring when the baggage cars arrived and we routed out and got our tents. Some of the boys however did not wake up but laid snoring in the dirt all night. They came out this morning looking like a mess of hogs. The ground was dry and dusty and stuck fast to their clothes.

We did not pitch our tents last night but spread them down and slept on them and slept comfortable.

This morning we went to work and put up our tents and have just got moved into them.

We are having quite warm weather. I presume it is nearly or quite as warm where you are. We got good water, better than we did in St. Louis.

I cannot tell you anything about how long we shall stay here.

We may leave before night.

I believe the whole C. is well with the exception of two and they are better than when they left St. Louis. Hubbards Co left 4 at St. Louis sick with the measles. I am not acquainted with any of them. All the boys from our vicinity are well.

01d Robert Howel is in this place keeping a Grocery Store. Some of the boys have been to see him.

I mailed a letter to you the night before we left Camp Benton or St. Louis. I wrote to you three times while there and have not heard from you since the Letter Laurant brought to me. The last letter I wrote to you I made a little mistake in regard to the picture. You will probably discover it. The way it happened I intended to wrap the picture in the letter but altered my mind and mailed them separate not thinking what I had written until after I had mailed it, but you will excuse me in all these mistakes for you know I am liable to all such blunders ·

I have no news in particular to write to you. I shall write again soon. I expect we shall go from here to Springfield next. When we get there I will write and if we stay here any length of time I shall write again.

You must not feel uneasy about me if you do not hear from me often for you know that letters do not always go directly through. If they did I should probably have had a letter from you ere this but I wait with patience if I was sure that you hear from me I should feel better about it, for I fear you are watching the mail and do not get my letters but I feel anxious for Doc Patterson to get back then I shall certainly expect to hear from you. He was to be at Davenport tomorrow. If he is he will not get here before next Saturday if he does then.

We shall not be likely to stop long in a place after this.

You had better direct your letters to Camp Benton, St. Louis, for the present or until you hear from me again.

You must be very careful to distinguish the Co., that is be sure to put on Co. H. 20th Regiment and do not omit the Iowa Volunteers. If you should neglect either of these I should not stand much chance to get them.

I will now close by saying good Bye Sarah, write often.

Your with Respect

A.P. Mitchell

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