cams_bawatson_b3153_f007_001_01

Indian Territory 8 miles N. W. from St Joe [St. Joseph, Missouri]

May 6 1849

My Beloved Wife

I now Take up my pen to write you the
last letter that I shall have any reliable certainty of your
receiving from me for some time to come, as tomorrow
we take up our line of march for the "Eldorado" and
dearest what I shall now write you will receive as the wishes of
your husband and so far as wishes are expressed in these lines I
feel the most reliable confidence you will strive to carry out so far
as in you lies the power so to do. in the first place my darling
wife I want you and I expect you will bear our seperation [separation]
camly [calmly] & patiently and with that dignified fortitude for which
I know you are capable of enduring, the Knowledge that
you will thus conduct yourself will lighten the hours of
the weary march and make my mind rest better satisfied for thus
deserting you, and my sweet boy. Now dearest I do not wont [want] you
to fret and grieve yourself unnecessarily about me. I wont [want] you
that you should do everything to preserve your health for when
I come home I shall be very sorry to find that you have injured
your health by suffering your mind to dwell upon imaginary
dangers which you may suppose may surround m, give yourself
no uneasiness whatever about me, for, for your sake I shall
take good care of myself that I may enjoy your dear society
when I shall return to your arms to leave them never more.
You must not believe any unfavorable reports about us, for if any

[Written upside down at the top of the page]

Bilson says he will not write from this place but will do so on the
first opportunity.

Kiss my boy again and again My dear sweet wife.

Tell John Ives that I expected to have received a letter from Him before this