Note: this letter was written on paper with a circular seal that says:

GREEN LEAF
&
TAYLOR MF.CO.
SPRINGFIELD.MASS.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Benton Barracks Mo December 1st A.D. 1861
Dear Sister
As I have ten minutes before taps I will spend them
for your consideration if it is any consolation for you to know that I am
well and in fine Sprits I had a pleasant trip down to St Louis where I
arrived on Saturday morning going down Friday night at 1 oclock the captain
of the boat called me up and told me to look over on the other side of the
River that the Desmoines the Boat that had our Reg on was fast in a sand bar
I wanted him to go and pull them off but he was afraid to on account of
the water being too shallow and the wind being very high so I told him that
I would go t St Louis with him so I went back to bed and slept finely this
was sixty miles above St Louis Our Lieutenant Collonel being in St Louis I
informed him of the Reg whereabouts and he chartered a boat and sent them
provisions I went along we found them off of the bar but blown ashore, at
9 oclock PM Saturday the officers were all very glad to see me for they were
all out of Tobacco and crowed around me and called for a chew and you may
tell Marcellus the plug he gave me was very soon chewed up by Field and Line
officers. the next (Sunday) morning we left the Shore for St Louis where we
arrived at 1 oclock P.M. and marched out to Benton Barracks which is 2 1/2
miles back from the River

I am well pleased with things here we have plenty to eat and comfortable
barracks I sleep very warm we are having fine weather There is now some
twenty thousand troops in Benton Barracks and more coming every day the
prospect of a fight seems to be dull at this time but we cannot tell what
the day may bring forth I wrote a letter to my wife this evening I
recieved one from her since I came to this camp they are all well Now Sis
answer this immediately and oblige your affectionate Brother so good night
E.D. Duncan

(Send this page to a Friend)     ( Roster Photo's )

If you have any additional information that you would like to add to this page or other pages and share with

visitors of on this web site, please contact