cams_bawatson_b3153_f009_001_01

Kiss my boy & give my love to all & little Jimmy

8th Leter [letter]

Camp near the Head waters of The Little
Blue 240 miles from St Joseph Mo

May 15 1849

My Dear Wife

You cannot conceive how agreably [agreeably] I was surp-
rised to receive a letter from you away out in the midst of a
great plain. On Tuesday last about noon a man came up to
our train carrying an express to the Platt River and on reading
over his list I had the indiscribable [indescribable] joy to see my name and on
opening the letter I found it was from my Dear sweet wife dated
the 30th inst. it came like manna from above to me for I did
not expect to hear from you untill [until] I had reached California.
I had to pay a dollar postage but it went free for I got the
worth of my money. It told me that you & my boy was
well and it made me certain of something which I very
much wanted to be sure of though I thought it must be
so. Yet my dear I am sorry that you cannot quiet your
mind down it is no use dwelling in your thoughts further
about my coming back until I see the Elephant or rather as
you say untill [until] I pick up what I want, and when I do that I
assure you my dear you shall see me just as quick as wind &
stream or the air Balloon can bring me to your dear bosom.

I sent you a letter a few moments after I received yours, by a
man who was going into Kanzas [Kansas], he had been out to bring
a gentleman who had been left by his company sick. It is now
Saturday night and the camp tonight is Enlivened by the
music of our band. It has the very best Effect upon the minds
of the men. I have just had to suspend my writing to take