File:Letter signed Ed. (Edward) Hartley, Camp Beauregard, to Em, September 24, (1862).jpg

Regarding a march from St. Louis to Rolla, Missouri and Springfield, Missouri. Mentions conditions on the road and the behavior of the other soldiers.

Transcription:Camp Beuregard[Camp Beauregard] Sept 24

Dear Friend

Your precious Letter came to me last week and it has bestowed great consolation on me as do all letters from my friends

You cannot think how much good it does a Soldier away out in the wild and rock hills of Missouri, to receive a letter from the dear old Friends of their distant but “ne’er forgotten” home. There is no greater happiness for me, Although it is a favor which I am in no wise worthy of.

We left St. Louis on the 13th and arrived in Rolla 10 oclock at night we went on the Pacific [and] Iron Mountain R.R. Rolla has 20 common houses and 200 mud Huts. There is a fort situated on a high hill. one mile from Rolla they have 200 Rebel Prisoners there they make them work in the Battery. Missouri is the most hilly and rock country I ever Saw. We have been on a forced march to Springfield, our men have some of them given out. our movement out a few nights ago and Confiscated Four Mules and a Wagon to haul out Knapsacks. this will help us very much we have marched 120 miles over mountains and nothing to eat but dry crackers and coffee and not half enough of that. We have been almost Famished for water and most of what we get has been standing pond. water covered with green stuff on top we were compeled to boil & skim it before drinking. The weather has and is warm here now than it was there in July and the roads are covered with dust two inches deep, which has made it much worse for us to travel. I have had good health since I have been in Missouri And it very hard for me to keep up with our Regt. I have got down hearted and felt as if I could go no farther, but when I think of the “Cause” for which we endure all hardships and that it is for our Blessed Country, I can endure any thing whatever, and Death as an honor. Em I am now in the vilest and most degraded Company I have ever been in they are the worst men I ever saw, Swearing of the most vulgar kind and scandalous filthy talking is heard every minute in the day. They never think of God or that they have a Soul. It often has mad my heartache many a tear falls without permission to hear them How can they expect to prosper? God would not be just unless he punished them. We are not 9 miles from Springfield there are 23,000 Union Soldiers there, we are formed into a Brigade there are 7,000 with us our Brigadeer General name is Herron of Iowa he has been promoted to that office for bravery on the battlefield. There are 10.000 more Soldiers following. we will all stay in Springfield a while, there are 40,000 Rebels near Springfield at a place called Cross Hollow. I suppose we will have to rout them. We have had glorious War News last we heard that MLellan[McClellan] had taken 130,000 men and two Generals. I can not believe it if it is so our fighting is nearly done. also that Virginia has laid down her arms. All our men kept up a continual cheer all night — I suppose you hear more war news than we do and so I will not mention any.

Excuse this miserable writing my knee is the best desk I can procure.

My best wishes to all write soon

Your Ever true Friend

Ed Hartley