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Note: this letter was written on paper with a circular seal that says:
GREEN LEAF
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TAYLOR MF.CO.
SPRINGFIELD.MASS.
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Moreau Bridge Township ??? County Mo. Jan 5-'62
Well Dear Sister,
I have not recieved
any answer to my last letter to you and conclude that you never recieved it
so I seat myself this afternoon to write you a line to let you all know that
I an well and my whereabouts. I have a squad of 20 men one sergent and two
Corprals and am guarding a Bridge. Bail Road Bridge four and a half miles
East of Jefferson City on the Pacific R.R. We are having a fine time
indeed. I have a neat little frame house for my ??? and the men have a
large room built in the side of a hill out of stone to cook in and sit by
the fire when not on duty. They sleep in their tents. We keep two men on
guard duty night and day. Captain Miller and Lieut. Wilson ar at Usage
Bridge 4 1/2 miles east of this. Their guards were fired on a few nights
since by some Rebles from a flat boat. The guards, four in number, returned
the compliment. No one was hurt to our knowledge as the Rebles left for the
other side of the Mo. River in a hurry. Our men had no means of crossing to
follow them. They fired some forty shots ath their boat but they all lay
down in the old flat boat to protect themselves and floated away from shore.
We have not been molested. The bridge we are guarding cost the sum of $175,000.
Well Sister, I am in good health and the best of spirits. I recieved my
letter finally in one case day before yesterday and three letters from my
Dear Wife dated Dec 22 - 25 and 26. They are all well. She wrote me that
she had sent you our Boys likeness. He is a fine little fellwo in deed I
think. The young ladies at home think he is and say he looks just like his
father. It is the report now in camp at Jefferson that our Reg will be
moved to Fort Leavenworth as soon as the health of the men will permit(there
is now some 300 of our Reg in hospitals). The health of com B is tolerably
good, but I do not put any confidence in the report. It matters not to me
where we are sent, but if I had my choice, I would go down the Miss in a fleet.
Monday morning Jan 6th
All well this morning. The ground is
covered with snow and it is cold for this section of the country. We have
plenty to eat and wear. Who would not be a soldier and work for Uncle Sam.
Well Sster you will excuse a half sheet. Times are hard and I have not
drawn any pay as yet and have only two postage stamps. My love to you and
your husband and all the family.
Your affectionate Brother E.D. Duncan
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Iowa In the Civil War
