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Saint Louis April 8 1849
My Dearest Love
I again take my pen in hand to address you, to enjoy the sad pleasure of communicating to you my thoughts and feelings, sad because it brings so forcibly to my mind the great sacrifices which I have made in parting from the light of my existence, from My dear family, from my dear wife and boy, a pleasure because I know it will make your heart glad to receive a word from me, because it make me feel as though I were for an instant in your sweet presence. Alas! it is only for an instant for when I take my eyes from the sheet I see none but strange faces. I do not see that dear face to greet me with its smile oh that I near home again. no I think it will be for the best that I should go from you for a while, I think as I did when I left home that if my life is spared I shall return home compensated for my deprivations and then we shall not regret our separation, Dear wife I shall now resume my transcript from my journal and I hope in this perusal you may derive some amusement or entertainment. My last letter left us on the Illinois River. Where we stay in [?]. Shaving and washing up and Eating a very good dinner.
Monday April 2 Got off in good season mules much refreshed by their rest and good feed. traveled four miles over a hilly country covered with black Jacks & Hazel & reached Griggsville [Griggsville, Illinois] a very flourishing village, surrounded on the west by a very beautiful country indeed fourteen miles farther reached the little town of "Barry" [Barry, Illinois]
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another smart place, we have passed through the cities of Philadelphia and St Louis places that you have read of. We reached our camp at five o clock [o'clock] in a beautifull [beautiful] vally [valley] surrounded by hills from which gushed some of the most beautifull [beautiful] spring which I have seen since I left my Native Tennessee having made today twenty eight miles.
Tuesday 3 -- left camp this moring [morning] in the rain. Our India rubber keeping us dry. Marched today through a fine Country under the bluffs passed through "Kinderhook" made a push to pass some ox teams ahead of us which we did and arrived at camp on the snicarty [Snicarte] slough a shute [chute] of the Mississippi River. the rain pouring down incessantly all day prospects for the night very discourageing [discouraging] wood scarce & wet, had some music, which raised the spirits of the boys lay down at nine ocloc [o'clock] and passed the best night since I left your sweet arms, made today sixteen miles.
Wednesday 4 -- Crossed the river in a steam ferry boat and landed at "Sapio" 1 1/2 miles Above the Hannibal having ferried ten miles. Reached Hannibal at 10 oclock [o'clock] a boat had just arrived for St Louis, which I went aboard of and left in fifteen minutes. Company all well, arrived at St Louis at 10 at night. The wind blew so cold I could not enjoy the scenery very much shall stay on board the boat tonight.
Thursday 5 -- Took lodgings at the Missouri Hotel, such a crowd there was no chance to get a room, met Naves in the Telegraph office, met N. G. Shepherd in the street and concluded to take up lodgings with him at the Main street house, Met T. B. Fisher, Bill Pease, & T. T. Whitehurst, got the blues again
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They reminded me of Home and its Joys. Went up and spent the evening with W Brookir, he cheered me up considerably.
May 6 -- Knocked round town and made some purchases. Saint Louis Ann a great place. Astonished at the great number of ugly women one meets in the street. I expect all women will look ugly to me untill [until] I see my dear wife again. Sorry for them if all men look upon them as I do.
Saturday 7 -- Shipped every thing [everything] aboard the good steamer "Algoma" which leaves this evening for the Mo River [Missouri River]. I forgot to mention that I slept with T. B. Fisher at "Scotts" on Friday night I told him to call and see you & Molly.
Sunday 8 -- The boat will not leave till tomorrow evening so I spent the day as best I could. Went to church at 1 oclock [o'clock] went down to the "Cave" with Shepherd after dinner and saw great crowds of Dutch there [?] bar [?] satisfied that it is a national characteristic [?] Dutch [?] their Sundays in spraing. this is becoming a nightly [?].
Dearest, when I come back I am determined you shall spend a month in this City to see some of the "Lions". And now my dearest wife I must bid you good night. I am on board of a crowded boat but am fortunate in having a state room in Connexion [connection] with Shepherd. Dearest I tell you candidly I believe our temporary seperation [separation] will be of great advantage to us I know I never could have known the depth or extent of my love for you if I had not been parted from you & when I again fold you to my bosom I know nothing but He who controls all things can tear me from you. write me a long letter to St Joseph and tell me how our sweet cherub does. Tell me if you still think our pleasant anticipations will prove true in fact tell me everything that will interest me, (and everything you do tell me will do so) Kiss our babe, and be of good cheer tell Walter I wish he would write to me. Tell me how you like your situ= ation, try to be happy & pray for my safe return. Farewell Dear sweet loved wife. B. A. Watson
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April 16 1849
My very Dear Wife From this far off place it is again my pleasure to address you my life, my soul. Oh dearest how I wish it were in my power to clasp you to that heart that beats only for you. Dear wife if you could only realize the love I bear you, you would I think be almost reconciled to our seperation [separtion], which has taught me that love the depth of which I knew not before and if it should be the will of Divine Providence to guide my steps safely to your side, rest assured a whole life time of love shall compensate us for our deprivation. I fear dearest you will not be able to answer this in time for me to receive it at this place, but write nevertheless I may do so.
This week has not been one that has added much of interest to my journal, though I have been passing through a very interesting portion of our country. My last letter left me in the City of St Louis on board the "Algoma" bound for this point. Well we got off from the city about 11 Oclock [o'clock] at night on Monday with 250 passengers on board. The greater portion of whom are as big fools as myself, are going to try their for= tunes beyond the plains. Our upper decks were crowded with wagons, & men. Our lower decks with mules, & our cabin with ayes (I fear) it was a very tempestuous night, the wind blowing a gale which at time almost threatened to capsize us & the rain pouring in torrents which threatened to baptize us, them that almost a whissin. Morning found us in sight of the time
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housed village of St Charles, & I confess I was disappointed in not seeing a better place. The situation is fine but everything looks tired, today the wind still continues to blow great guns which kept the folks in a stew all the time. Though I confess it does not frighten me at all.
The country along the river does not look very inviting to a person who lives in our fine land. The river is not as much cut up as I expected to find it though the water being high makes it appear to better advantage than it otherwise would I suppose
The timber seemed to be rather better than it does on the Mi. [Missouri] or Ills. [Illinois] rivers. There is usually a high bluff on one side or other of the river all the time the towering rocks at times adjoining at times the shape of some turreted castle, & at others of some crum= =bling ruins. Dearest I wish you were with me to Enjoy the varied scen= =ery which presents itself at every turn of the river, but Orackie the wind blows so cold I must go in to the cabin by the stove a while from which I was soon aroused by the screaming whistle of the engines announcing our approach to some town which proved to be "Booneville" [Boonville, Mo.] named after the great Pioneer of the west, though I dont [don't] think quite so much of the place as I do of old Daniel.
We puffed away making but slow way against the mighty current of this river aided by the head wind which we have had to encounter.
To night [tonight] we had preaching from a Mr. Calhoun a very talented man. Whilst the sermon was going on in one end of the boat, there were a lot of gamblers swindling some young men in the other quite a contrast you will say & so I thought. relay try tonight on account of the abundance of the snags & the darkening of the night got under way as soon as the moon rose we reached "Glasgow" a very flourishing looking town, about 8 oclock [o'clock] A. M.
Our passengers generally seem to be a very decent lot of people we