18 November 1861

Camp Burnside, 8th Regiment
Pilot Knob [Missouri]
November 18, 1861

My dear sister,

I received your letter while on the march. I assure you it was a very welcome visitor. I was sorry you had not received any more of my letters but did you not tell someone you had received no letter from me after you had answered one I wrote you from St. Louis? I fear you convey the idea that I have written to others and neglected you. This you will see must be farthest from my intentions as I have written you five with this since I left Camp Randall.

We have just returned from a 11 days tramp down on the St. Francis River — 70 miles from here — to a place called Indian Ford but we got no sight of the rebels. We had several of our men sick and unable to go with us, among them Albert [Mallory], Byron [Hewitt] & Joseph Griffin. They are getting along very well now. But today we have to bury John Thomas of Wauzeka. He took the measles & then the typhoid fever set in & at 1½ o’clock the death march, with muffled drums & reversed arms, will tell us that another of our fellow soldiers has gone to rest.

Now nearly half of our regiment had had the measles & but one has died. Mr. [James] Temby has had very sore feet & unable to walk. He is also better.

We expect to go to St. Louis & get our new clothes. Then go to Kentucky. I hope you will improve well your time in school, for your school days will soon be passed & I can tell you that I very often feel the need of much more schooling than I have. Write me how you progress, how the folks there & at home. Give my best respects to Mr. & Mrs. Newton. Also to any inquiring friends, and remember

Your affectionate brother, — J. T. McClure