Letter from Tim, dated 1861-09-08

the disgrace which attached itself to our army then & there. Henry wrote me that a young man from M. town with 5 others, fired 5 rounds each, & gave 3 cheers for E. Allen after the rest had all left the field, some, want it? - there has been another battle in Mo near Springfield at Dug's Spring I believe between Seyon & McCulloch, the latter being totally routed, having 40 killed 44 wounded. Seyon lost 8, wounded 30. Have just got back from getting the horses & uncle hs gone to [Ft?] Worth to make arrangements for moving next week now I'll finish this I then go to the P.O. - perhaps thee thinks it's a funny thing to look after stock in Uncle Sam's pasture but just come out & try it once. I traveled through the tall grass, over the prairie & hills a good deal less than 25 miles & if my understanding, understands right my understandings are considrably weary if not more - we have had a fine rain today the first for some weeks of any amount. it has been very warm & dry for sometime write soon, often, accept love in the quantity for the & thine & [oblige?[ Tim

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Atchison, K. 9th. 8th. 1861.

My dear brother Wm.,

According to my arrangement the [underline]is[/underline] or [underline]will be[/underline] next First-day, enitled to annother, (that word is [selled?] good & strong, aint it?) effusion from my gifted pen. [underline](ahem! ahem![/underline] so here goes. "I am [underline]very[/underline] well & am glad to learn that thee is enjoying the same great blessing." which if not a correct quotation, will use the [underline]marks[/underline] the same as if it was. I wish I could write more eaisly, would write thee oftner as I think thee does rather lack for letters this Summer. I got none last week, but have received 4 this week so far, which does very well on the Dr. side but then come to think of Credit. - Oh! my!

Speaking of Caira's not writing thee, I think she has no reason for not doing so, unless it is because she has not received any from thee. she mentioned of writing to thee some time last season, & since then, when she sent her love, to thee, by me, she made a remark, (which please not repeat) which made me think she wished to hear from thee, (to wit.) "I don't suppose he will ever write to me". Morrill sent me his picture token in uniform. think he must be serj', or some such "ossifer," by the looks of his suit. he was at St. Johnsbury when he wrote. where is the regiment, the 3rd stationed now? I have not learned. H. E. Q. writes that the might before the reg. left St. J. the boys (for some reason not mentioned) concluded to tare down the tent of the [Sutler?], the Col. placed Morrill, on guard knowing of the intentions

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giving him orders to shoot if necessary, in the defence of his charge, which he did on the attacks being made, killing one man, & wounding 2 or 3 more. M. expected to be shot, as the company of the unfortunate young man swore they would shoot him if they could get the chance, horrible! aint it? Altho' it seem very, very sad, M. should obey orders, if not what sort of an army would there be in the field, on guard or anywhere else. the company should not, I think, feel revenge towards a soldier obeying orders but should look to the source of those orders if they seem unjust. Morrill is a good fellow, and one of my best friends, I believe. Suppose you are still, well, bored perhaps, with the Manassas affair. there were a good many incidents that may in a measure remove from some companies & individuals