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Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900
1862-10-23 Page 1
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St Louis, Oct. 23d/62 My Dear Wife We are here but dont expect to get off the boat but go on to Helena, Arkansas. We left Clinton late Monday evening. You can imagine the [hurah?] bustle & noise of 800 meni, stores, horses, [etc.?] going on board a boat by the light of a flambeau or two. We lay there on the ground under guard for 4 hours before we went on the boat. The wind blew so we had to lay up at LeClaire till daylight, then at the bridge above Davenport we had to get off and walk around; were detained there again under guard for two hours before embarking. When we had got a mile from Davenport the wind blew so we had to go back to Rock Island and lay up there till most night; started again and 6 miles above Muscatine had to lay up again; since that we have had fair weather We lost two men, (not of our company) by drowning between Port Bryson & LeClaire and two since. 6 men of different companies ran the guard at Rock Island and were left behind to follow at their own expense, together with one captain & one lieutenant. Since then the Colonel has not let a man go ashore when we stopped not even a shoulder strap. Our men were packed on the boat & 3 barges in tow. Wnen we leave here we shall have more room in our boat, as it will be of the largest class. I have slept in the cabin so far
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St Louis, Oct. 23d/62 My Dear Wife We are here but dont expect to get off the boat but go on to Helena, Arkansas. We left Clinton late Monday evening. You can imagine the [hurah?] bustle & noise of 800 meni, stores, horses, [etc.?] going on board a boat by the light of a flambeau or two. We lay there on the ground under guard for 4 hours before we went on the boat. The wind blew so we had to lay up at LeClaire till daylight, then at the bridge above Davenport we had to get off and walk around; were detained there again under guard for two hours before embarking. When we had got a mile from Davenport the wind blew so we had to go back to Rock Island and lay up there till most night; started again and 6 miles above Muscatine had to lay up again; since that we have had fair weather We lost two men, (not of our company) by drowning between Port Bryson & LeClaire and two since. 6 men of different companies ran the guard at Rock Island and were left behind to follow at their own expense, together with one captain & one lieutenant. Since then the Colonel has not let a man go ashore when we stopped not even a shoulder strap. Our men were packed on the boat & 3 barges in tow. Wnen we leave here we shall have more room in our boat, as it will be of the largest class. I have slept in the cabin so far
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