The Principal correspondents in these letters are John Archer Thomas and his wife Susan McMahan Thomas.  These letters are the property of Ione Tiger, a direct descendant of John Archer Thomas.  Copies of the letters are in the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City.

June 16^th 1861

Dear Susan   I was sorry I could not see you last night but I had not time to go up there Nancy Ann’s   (as I did not get through with the business I was attending to until 10 or 11 oclock) which was providing for you in case we never should meet again   I leave my business in the hands of Brother Dudly   We are comanded to go to Miami today therefore I will not get to see you until my return if the Lord spares me to return but if not I hope to me you  wars and disision never comes.  Try to raise the children in the fear of the Lord   Tell them Father wants them to meet him in heaven.  Try to get Mother to live with you and tell her I was in hopes of meeting her here when I come home.  Pray for my wellfare and safe return and may God the ruler of all things allow us to meet again on earth but not my will but his

   Your afectionate husband

       J. A. Thomas

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August 13,  1861  in camp

Dear Susan   for the first time since I left I write you a few lines   it seems but the providence of the Almighty that I am spared to write at all   I have been well as a general thing never unfit for duty   it is useless to commense at the start of our journey to tell you of our travels but I will give you some particulars of our fighting at Carthage  we were drawn up in a line and the canons began to fire and about the second fire of the enemies a piece of burn shell tiped my elbo but did not disable me but very little   so I followed them all that day until dark without one bite of food the whole day   I went into  a store and bought 25 cents worth of candy which is all the money I have spent since I left there   tell Mother I am saving it for hard times   We as I havent much time I comence at our last battle   the first intimation I had of danger was near breakfast time   Clay was gone to the spring about half mile off and had not returned   we were drawn up in line as quick as possible and marched to meet the enemy who had come upon us in the night and had all advantage of us but we met them on the hill near our camp   then the firing comenced   there were several of our company killed and wounded   our Captain was killed   our Company became scattered and I joined Captain Prichard company and fought with them the balance of the day   I saw none of the company during the engagement from the time we scattered   Aleck went through and got out safe   when Clay got back from the spring he could not find his gun or company   the balls began to fly so swift about him   he put out with the baggag  wagons therefore was not in the fight   tell John Guillet I used the little gun untill my shoulder was bruised black by it kicking   I shot some sixteen or eighteen times at the enemy   I took deliberate aim each time the bullets whised by lik the hardes hailstorm   God by…no more time we are about to start   kiss my children   I don’t have any idea when I’ll see y   good by   May God preserve us all 

J. A. Thomas

Mrs Susan M Thomas

Pleasant Park

Carroll Co  M 

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Camp near Springfield

August 15^th  1861

Dear wife

                Again I will try to write to you   I am well and in tolerable spirits though I did fear my time had come whilst my friends were falling wounded and dead all around me   five of our company were killed on the field and 7 or 8 wounded   the bullets were flying all around us as thick as hail   we were fighting about six or eight hours   it was a hard earned victory though a complete one, the enemy took the start of us and came upon us so early in the morning that som had not had their breakfast   Clay had gone to the spring after water for our breakfast but never got back untill we were all gone.  I had taken his gun out to the ranks expecting him every moment but we marched as soon as we were formed  I carrying Clays gun   when Clay got back to camp he could not find his gun or his company either.  The enemy began to shoot around him with their canon so he followed the baggage wagons and never saw any of us untill late in the evening after the battle  it was impossible for him to get with us as the enemy were between us so he had to go to keep from being taken prisoner   there was several of our boys taken prisoner but most of them got away from the enemy.  But where do you suppose I was all that time   I’ll tell you I was fighting with all my might   I shot untill my shoulder and arm were brused perfectly blue   I think I must have paid them up for the scratch they gave me at Carthage   I fired some sixteen or eighteen shots at the enemy but whether any of my shots took effect I know not   My time is just half gone this morning   I have still three months to serve and then I’ll be certain to come home if the Lord spars me so long   if I don’t see you before then may God give us health and may we never forget that the Lord will ever be a friend to them that put their trust in him   without him I cant see how it was possible for me to have passed through the battle last Saturday   for six or seven hours the balls were most of the time flying all around me but none touched me except a spent ball which struck me on the cheak bone just below the eye   there was one ball struck a bush in front of me about the size of my arm which certainly saved my life as it would have struck me in the breast but I am spared and I never see another such a time   I went over the battle ground that evening and such a sight   is enough to make ones blood run cold   there were hundreds of dead and wounded lying all over the ground.  They came on us unawares and had us surrounded before we knew any thing about their being in the neighborhood   I would like to write more but my share of the paper is gone   tell my old mamy and Mother to remember me in their prayers.  Farewell kiss my babyes and tell their father will see them as soon as he can   I must stop   if we don’t meet on earth let us remember there is a place where parting will be no more   Give my love to all enquiring friends and keep for your self a full portion   so good by   I shall ever remain your affectionate husband

           John A Thomas

Aug 15^th  1861

To mistress E Thomas from Clay Thomas   well mah unkle John has left me room to write some on his letter and I must tell you a little about our travails and trials  I have seen a pretty tough time since I left home and am very poor and bony at present but I hope there is a better day a coming   we have lived on wheat ground like corn with out hotting for several weeks and we have lived on green corn for nine days without any bread and we have done without salt in our vituals for several days to gether but we are living better now we are camped within about 3 or 4 miles of Springfield  we have whiped the duch and drove them back and it is reported that General Hardees has captured what few we left   we have saved old Lions and he is now in his grave   we kill them in great numbers and they left at least nine tenths of the men that were kill on the field for a quarter of a mile square   A  man could walk on dead boddies of the duch but as for my part I dident  do much good at the battle of Springfield for I was gone to the Spring and duch had us completely surrounded and opened the fire on us on all sides and I started for camp with my water and the canon balls were flying thick over my head and when I reached camp my gun was gone and my company too and duches canon was within a hundred yards of me and fireing rite to wards me and I left with the wagons and saved my self with out getting hurt   well I have to stop   good by

                                                Clay Thomas

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Springfield  Mo    Aug 20 1861

Dear Susan

                I will keep writing to you every chance I have.  I am well   I sent you a letter the other day by Berry which I suppose you will receive in which I gave you all the news of the fight but now I write just because I know you want to know I have you still in rememberance   We expect to start from here in a few days but where to I do not know   it will be nearer home somewhere on the river but what place I know not but think it will be Lexington perhaps   I will write every chance I get that you may know where we are at   I think I told you in the letter I was hit by a spent ball which I scarsly felt   Hiram Ferill says he will deliver it to you if I will send it  I will send it to you that you may have something from the battle of Springfield as a keepsake  Tell Mother I shall allways feel that my family have a protector whilst she lives that I have felt no uneaseness on that score since I left knowing that the Lord will ever be a father to the Fatherless and  husband to the widow   I must stop   give my love to my old mammy and Mother and all the friends   remember me in your prayers that I may get home safe to you and the children   Farewell   May the Lord bless and love us

           J. A. Thomas

    Keep my bullet         J. A. Thomas

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August 25^th  1861                                        

John A. Thomas Esq

                                                                     Slack’s Division

                                                                      Mo. State Guards

Dearest Brother

           It is with thankfulness in my heart that I lift my pen this evening to converse with you who have made so many narrow escapes from being laid on the Battle field with so many others precious lives.  But none so precious to us as yours dear brother    we live and hope and pray for your safe return after having gained the victory over the enemy which we pray will be soon.   We hear from you all   sometimes through others who have come in but no particulars only you are well – I heard that Susan had got a letter from you but have not seen it and know but little that was in it – only you had sixteen rounds in the fight – Oh!  John how did you ever escape getting shot yourself - it must have been from the breast plate your wear your testament that has sheilded you – Clacy took Susan your letter and give it to her and told her it was from you and she jumped at Clacy and huged her then looked at it and huged her again – she was so over joyed she knew not what else to do - your family all keep well though they say Susan is very lonely without you and wanted to go to you when she heard you were shot in the arm – and would have done so could she got company for Susan   we all sympathise with her knowing our own feelings – though there must be a better day a coming.   Ma left me last Monday after having been here four weeks – she is a goodeal complaining with rheumatism in one shoulder though gets about pretty well – I have a little girl three weeks old very pretty of course – name Ruth – we are all pretty well at present here though there is considerable sickness through the country – Sissie’s family are nearly all sick though not dangerous when I last heard,  how is Clay and Elic – I heard that sister got a letter from Clay yesterday – she will be glad I know   Lill was up to see me about 3 weeks ago   says they are all getting along pretty well – I suppose you know John – (or do you ever get any news from home) that T Hendrick   Clay Thomas and several other of our Caldwell connection have joined the Northern army – cousin Elvira’s family are all in favor of the North.   even to ------ and that would not suit Phocion – for he is so strong south – Billy Griffith and several others are speaking of going to gov Jackson from brother Johns neighborhood – Old Mr. Molera has joined the Northern troops – it is father against son now a days – brother Dudley and brother John got home safe after many narrow escapes from the Jahawkers   it makes the cold chills run over me to hear them talk of the danger they were in – both in battle and after they left you – Brother John speaks of going over to see you all in a week or two – every thing would be quiet here if it were not for the Home Guards that pretend to be afraid of the Cecessionist – Mr Kavanaw and Mary Ann have come down from Lexington to Aunt Permelia   Rea’s have been there some time – left Lexington on acount of the fuss – went back last week and got to the river and they would not let them cross so they had to come back again  - the Northern men are doing a greatdeal of mischief in Lexington in way of robbing stores and all such meanness,  tell Elic that I heard from Lizzie Hoover this week they are all well – tell him that Lill looked as little and as sweet as ever when she was up to see me and I think she will give up all claim on her beau Clay Thomas of Caldwell since he has gone North so he can if he will be a good soldier   have all the claim his self – and I hear him very much praised as a Soldier by those that have come back,  you all get a splendid name as soldiers – Mr Blackwell has gone after Charley but I don’t think he can ever bring him after being dead this long – the family took his death very hard – Mrs and Mr Butcher were at the Blackwells when the news came of their sons - 

      Oh!  John you don’t know how often we think and speak of you when we get a good dinner of all kinds of vegetables and think we are enjoying it – all whilst perhaps you are cooking your scanty meal of beef and bread – how often we wish you could get something from home   it would gratafy as equaly as much as you – Sissie and Coop were up to see me three weeks ago  - Sissie looks thin but Coop looks better than I have seen her for several years   when we all meet the whole conservation is War – John Clay and Elic and hope for your success and safe return – for you know dear John all we can do is to hope and pray – Mr Clinkscales would like so much to go to see you all – him and Sam were talking of it yesterday that if brother John went they would perhaps go with him – John to write to us there is persons passing all the time that you would have an opportunity of sending a letter almost every week – be certain and write to me a long letter by the bearer of this if he comes back – though I do not know who it will be – I heard that Dr Tucker was going over and perhaps he will take it – I scarcely know how to write to you or what would interest you away out there – but I suppose home affairs will be more interesting than political – Ma sends one of her boys to stay with Susan every night – when she has no other company – I think Old Hooper was there when I last heard as tiresome to Susan as ever – Susan has been wanting to come see me but has not come yet  - though I look for her soon – dear brother she deeply feels your absence from what I can hear of her – very melancholy and always talking about you – don’t expose yourself any more than you can help   try and keep well and don’t get shot   do get back home once more for our sakes if not your own – if you were only home as brothers John and Dudley we would be so glad – Ma has had to confine George the last few weeks he has been so bad that everyone got afraid of him – Ma is staying at home now.  Someone killed her dog Bull so she has none now     she is very sorry about it – tell the boys all to write as often as they have an opportunity – give my love to all my friends there – Peter Rea – Abbot Clinkscales – Clay – Elic – and all the balance.  and dear brother you every have the warm and most sincere love of your sister                                               

  P P  Clinkscale

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August 28^th  1861                Stockton  Ceder Co Mo

Dear Wife

                I once more seat myself to write you a few lines   we are on the march from Springfield but to where we are bound it is not known by any one of our company or if it is they keep it to themselves   but we are marching in the direction of Fort Scot   it may be that we are on the eve of another battle but I know not for   I tell you it is no fun although a man may brave the bullets and cannon balls when they are forsed to   I don’t believe any man would be willing to try it more than once just for the fun of the thing.  But if there is anyone who is so fond of it as to go into fight for the fun of it I am willing to give them my place in the next engagement.  For as sure as you live there are too many of just such things as that bullet I sent you by Lieutenant Hiram Farrell flying by a man for me to be fond of it.  We started from our camp near Springfield last Sunday morning early.  We are now about fifty or sixty miles from our old camp.  It is rumored that the enemy are a head of us but we never know when to believe anything that we hear sometimes   we hear that the enemy are advancing on us with an  enormous force   at others that there are none or that they are retreating so it is one thing or another all the time   so you see we never know any thing untill we see it ourselves.  Before the fight at Springfield we sometimes made forced marches at   others were in camp waiting for the enemy to attack us   we even went so far at one place as to have the young undergrowth timber cleared out for the purpose (suppers ready) of having our fight but the enemy did not come to engage us there   though pickets had a skirmish or two with them taking some prisoners and killing some.  At last we found they would not engage there   we started after them about eleven oclock at night and came to where they had been camped about daylight next morning but there was no dutch there.  They had gone on to Springfield  so we followed on to within some eight or ten miles of Springfield and stoped a few days waiting for more help from the south which we received the day before the battle.  The artillery was forced to march forward about twelve oclock but from some cause or other, I know not what we did not start but were there until just about sun rise when the news came that we were surrounded by the enemy who seemed to have us in their power   The order was to parade the companys as soon as possible and meet the enemy which we met immediately and the fight commenced   the issue of which you already have heard I have heard from home or in the neighborhood once or twice but from you I have not positively heard since I left   you can have no idea the value I would put upon a letter from you unless you are as anxious to hear from me as I am from you   I want to know where you live how you live and what you are doing   how you got through with your harvesting how the corn crop looks and potatoes watermelons peaches and in fact every thing that you can think of and don’t forget to say something about my little ones for you have no idea how I want to see you and them which I hope to do in about three months if not before if the Lord spares me  my time of service will be out in that time but if we should get any where near home and stop anytime I will try perhaps to get a furlow to go home a few days that is if my time is not near out or that I am not needed for something in particular at home, but if my time is about out I will try to stick it out   so I fear you will not see me before my time is out or the war ended.  You must write how all of the people stand in respect to the affairs of our country and what they think of our fights Carthage and Springfield who appears not to like it, for I fear there are some of our neighbors who don’t agree with us and who rather grieved at our success than otherwise.  I would like to know how Old man Crispin Holister Beal and Owen take it whether they seem any way down in the mouth or whether it has changed them and I also want to know what the McKenny Boys are doing   tell them to bring their shotguns and come on and help us.   For we need all the help we can get for the enemy are still in our land and we want them out   we have no use for them in our country but want them out   we have got them started let us keep them going   we can do it if we only will all turn out   our shot guns and rifles are just as good as their miney rifles or muskets   just tell them we killed four to where the enemy killed one of us at Springfield and at Carthage we must have killed ten to one   so you see we are just as well armed as they or else we beat them shooting most offully.   I am satisfied we must have kept the enemy at bay something near two hours with our home guns before we were reinforced whilslt there was not more than fifteen hundred of our men against some four thousand of the enemies pict troops for we had all their regulars to contend with who were well armed of course as that is the only kind they have   we got some two thousand stand of arms from them of the best quality of all the latest pattents and good muskets.  Just tell them this and tell them to turn out   I will try to tell you some of my dreams, just before the last battle about a week and whilst we were waiting for the enemy where we had cleared I laid down in the tent one day and went to sleep and dreamt I was in a large house up stairs looking out at a window on one of the most offul sights I had ever beheld   I saw at a distance two large collums of smoke rising in a woods at some distance and heard the roar of fire arms which proved to me there was a great battle going on   I watched and saw that it was uncertain from apearance which side should gain the day but at last there appeared to be a perfect blow up of something as though some great magazeen had blown up such an offul sight no man could hardly ever have seen after which the firing ceaced and I saw nothing more fore a while but at last I saw our army marching victoriously from the field, I told my dream to Clay and told him we were going to have a battle such as we never would see again for I was just as confident of it as could be so it turned out just as I had dreampt only I was in the fight myself and not a looker on.  But Clay says he saw it just exactly as I had told him allmost a week before.  He said he could not help but remember it   he says it could not have been discribed much better after the battle ended than I had already discribed it.  (a few words are missing because of the letter having been torn)  I had my Evy in my arms what was kissing me so sweet.  I am certain I must have my mouth a dozen time thinking I was kissing her but everytime I kissed it seemed to be a blank but I could see her so plain hold her little mouth down to me to kiss just as she done when I got home from Jefferson City that I would smack my mouth any how

Tell John Guillet I have lost both of his guns   one I gave to a man from Carroll making him promise to take care of it for me but he either sold it or lost it   one and the other I lost the evening after the battle by laying it down whilst I was at the hospital as they would not permit any person to cary their guns about there for fear the enemy might return and seeing armed men there fire on them   Clay saw a man with it but had no chance to get it as he was on the march but I think it must have paid for itself that day for I had some mighty fair shots and I know I took good aim.  Tell Mamma I have lost the comb she gave me which allowed my head to get sorter ugley for the critters and I would scratch   tell her to keep a stiff upper lip and get herself in good trim for dancing again like she did when I got home from California.  For I am going to try to get home again  (if we dont play ball too much before my time is out) if I can.  Tell Mother I have not forgot her yet that I hope to meet her again when I get home   that I place all confidence in hers and your management that I know it is useless today   take care of my little flock for that she will any how.  Well here comes the darkeys column   howdy Liza   are you well and are all little one well   how are you getting along with your crops   corn clean?   Do you think we can winter on it   I expect we aught to have right smart cut up for feed   how does your hogs look   you mus have me a good fat shoat to eat against what I get home for we don’t get any of that out here.  Hey howdy Junetty I havent seen you for some time, you will be a good girl and mind your miss Susan and have me a good churn full of buttermilk and a good supper for that is scarse out here Ha Ha  Ha    Wy how are you Fremont have you got all the stubble broke yet how does the horses look   you got all the burs out of the corn and the fence so Mr. Bruils stears dont get in.  You got me a watermelon   That’s right   Farwell all my paper is out it is about 12 oclock at night

John A Thomas

  Foot notes:

Wy bless your little souls Jonathan   you must learn your books and eat chicken and dumplin for father   be good boys and mind Ma

Hoora for Jenny   just look how she packs her Miss Evy that’s right you tend to her Jenny and keep your nose clean and you will have enough to do.

Leutenant Kinsey says tell you that Company B’s the crack company and ough to be kept up and I say the same   Write by every one you can for I could read letters all the time   Kiss the children   goodby

  J A Thomas

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August the 28^th 1861

Dear Husband   I send you a few lines to let you know how we are 

Eveline has been very sick but is better now   my health is not good   I have been nurseing Eve to much   Today I am very tiered mother and mama has just gone from here and are well   I have received your letter and the bullet you sent me   you have been hit twice now and I fear the next will be your last   I want you to come home and hire some person to serve your time out   I heard there was 50 thousand of the enemy on their march to springfield   I would like to know where you generals was when they let the enemy surround them and the guards   allso there is so much dispute about how many was killed   I want you to write and tell me the number on both sides if you can   you must write every chance you have and I will do the same   I am going to try to see Hiram Ferrill if can   he was very kind in sending me your letter.  I sent you one by Mr Robertson   if you ever get that I think you will try and come home   I would send you some clothes if I had any suitable but I have no blue and I am looking for you home every day   Gilbert Guilett got his arm broke last week   he was on the wagon load of hay when a storm came up which reared the horses and made them runaway and he fell off   the men are nearly all going of the quarterly meeting commences next Saturday but I do not feel like ------ it without you was here.  I am in hopes peace will be made soon   Thursday Jonathan is sick with a chill and Junetty   Eva is running about to day   it is geting very sickly the last few days  I have eat some peaches today and put them out to dry for you if you live to get home   I hope and pray that we may all live to meet again on earth but it seems very uncertain at present   Eliza wants me to tell you about her good corn she has raised   I went over to the field to day and I think it is the best corn we ever raised in that field   I am having the stubble broke up   I have nothing more to write only come home so good by   ever put your trust in the Lord and don’t forget to pray   tell all my neighbor Boys I still remember them      Charles Darr has just got home

 Susan M Thomas

 John A. Thomas

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September 2^nd 1861          In camp near Louis Jonese’s

          Dear Wife   “I am determined to give you enough to keep you reading some time if you read the letters I send you as often as I read yours.  I have read yours three times already and only received yesterday evening af returning from Louis Jones’ where I got my dinner which was just such as you would have if you had your choice in fixing it up   for it was good old bacon and cabbag with onions sliced in vinegar and plenty of other things to match it.  and am now eating a cracker that was sent from Old Carroll.  Salome and Louis are complaining as usual but are going about   little Phillip was very sick yesterday, that is their youngest child.  Mr. Vahn told you could scarsely be persuaded not to come with him to see me   if you had you would have killed two birds with one stone but it would have been of little satisfaction to you for I am listening every minute to hear the order to march forward to battle as the enemy are not far off.  They are at Ft. Scot which is about sixteen or eighteen miles from here   some of our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy yesterday evening   took something near one hundred mules with some prisoners.  We were marched out some three or four miles where we met the cavalry returning with the spoils   they were in great glee.  We went for the purpose of assisting had they got into an engagement but did not get into an general engagement therefore we all returned to our camp again where we arrived about eleven or twelve a clock last night and are now waiting for orders to march against the enemy.  I suppose we have received some recruits in our army today they are still coming in   I think they are reported to be somewhere between two and four thousand men of them.  It may be that is what we are waiting for   that is for them to help us whip the jahawkers at Ft. Scot   how many of the enemy there are I have no idea but from what I can hear there is between two and ten thousand  I have just heard this and given to march at eleven a clock   it is now about nine so there is not much time to write    I have given you all the news in a letter that have already written but have not started it yet   I did not expect to write untill after the battle   after receiving your letter it done me so much good I thought I would commence one now and finish after the battle.

September 3

We started yesterday and had not gone more than nine or ten miles before we met the enemy advancing on us   our cavalry met them and had a very hot engagement of something near an hour, after which the enemy began to retreat.  There was but few of the infantry in the engagement   we were in the rear therefore we were not in the fight at all though some of their bullets (passed) through our rank   there was one cannon ball bounced over us but none of our men were touched   it is raining now and has been all night   our things are all damp the water running through the tent   I laid with my head on the back of my gun to keep it dry.  We had orders to leave here from the fort last night but the rains prevented us so we are here yet   there was a few of our men wounded but I don’t know how   I saw two of their men lying by the side of the road dead but anything more about their killed or wounded I know nothing only I saw some three or four of their horses lying dead on the field   I was not in sight of the enemy at all,

September 4

I will try it again as I have nothing else to be doing   We again expected to start for the fort last night that we might have our fight and be done with it but I clouded up and commenced raining again so we are still here yet as it is not fitting weather to bring on an engagement (The Lord knows what is best therefore I say thy will be done)   It may be that this delay is for some good purpose be that as it may   I feel assured the Lord will never forsake his people.  I must say something more about our battle day before yesterday.   I heard this morning that there was found somewhere the side of the battle field in one place some thirty or forty of the enemy that were killed that day also one piece of cannon but how true it is I cant say as we are always hearing something or other which never know how to believe, but this I have no right to dispute for I cant see how there could help being a good many killed from the way the guns rattled   they kept a continual roar for the space of half an hour or longer the cannons continued to roar all the time also the enemy left in such a hurry and went so fast our men never got near enough to the main body to get into another fight with them   We were all called up yesterday on a false alarm.  The way it happened was this I think.  Some of our pickets were out south of us and saw some new recruits coming in which they took to be the enemy but they were soon found to be friends.  The cannons were heard at Louis Jone’s.  One of our boys was there   he said Louis was very uneasy for fear we would be whiped but I recon he has heard by this how it went.  The whole army are camped here to gather   I don’t know how many men we have.  Tell Brother Dudly I never was as glad to receive a paper in my life as I was to receive the one he sent me and that I read the piece called the signs of the times with much satisfaction and am right smart of the editors opinion in regard to the signs of peace (God grant we may have it soon)

September 12

This is the first opportunity I have had to write since the last date which you see on this letter   we have been traveling very near ever since by forced marches.  To commence where I left off   We had no battle after the one allready mentioned at Ft. Scot   we never left the state to fight them but staid at our camp two days then started in this direction but hearing of the enemy at Warrensburgh we traveled about thirty five miles in one day and night to overtake them but they had left before we got there so we came right in here to Lexington as soon as we could get here.  We got here about three oclock I suppose.  About time we heard our picket firing we then marched on in several divisions through corn fields apple and peach orchards until the first thing we knew we were right on the enemy   they commenced firing at our men out of a corn field across a lane from us, there was lot of our cavalry between our regiment and enemy which run over several of our company scattering them so some of them never got with their company any more the whole evening   I run to a fence as quick as I could and got out of the way of the horses but as soon as they got out of the way I ran to where our men were firing on the enemy   I saw them about two or three hundred yards off.   I fired one load at them from that place then fell back and loaded my gun by that time the enemy were retreating   I run then about one hundred yards to a pailing fence and gave them another shot   at that time they were retreating in the greatest confusion we following like so many wolves yelling with all their might after their prey   the enemy ralleyd several times before they got to their intrenchments but as often as they ralleyd they were routed   our men making no halt until the enemy got haused behind their breastworks.  Our battery was then planted and commenced firing on the college, our division went around on the east of their fortification but could see nothing of them but they found that we were there and fired on us for some time but no person was hurt.  Our cannons played upon them until after sun down and then we drew off from the field only loosing one or two killed and but few wounded.  I know nothing of the loss of the enemy but if it was no more than ours I don’t see why for   our men faught like perfect demons but we are not in possesion of Lexington yet and enemy seems determined to make no fight for it if we do get it.  What we are waiting for I don’t know but this is two days without fighting and the enemy not more than two or three miles from us

Monday morning  

I have nothing more of importance to write only there has no more fighting   Clay and I are both very unwell    this is the first time I have been sick   I received your letter by Hiram Ferrell with the pants and socks also a letter from Brother Dudly yesterday   I want to see you very much   I hope it will not be long before we meet   I only have two months to serve.  I seek all your prayers   tell Mother I have tried to as near as possible give a true account of the battle of Springfield in a former letter   when I get home I intend to try to stay with my little family   May God grant that peace may be made soon

Note:  this letter was written on a large ledger sheet, starting with pen and ink and ending with pencil.  And this letter was not signed.

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