Letter by Pvt. David Chap Jones to his father, A. K. Jones

Camp Johnson Nov. 8, 1861

Dear Father
We are both well, we have been a little sick since I wrote we had to be taken off guard one night both of us Hugh, two hours before I was unaccount of being unwell we were up and about the next day there is considerable sickness in our Reg. the measles have got in our Co. there has been several deaths since the Doctor told me there was eighty-five sick in camps and firty-five in the Hospitle one of our mess mates have been very sick he is sitting up at present a good portion of our Reg are out on a scout at present forty or fitty have just returned they brought two prisners and left one boy wounded in the hand none of our boys got hurt our boys had to sorter back for when they taken some of the prisners they learned there was about two hundred of the enemy had left that place a short time before to gain their rear so they being but forty or fifty they slipped back I and Hugh with some four others got in last night from guarding the dondemned horses out fife or six miles from camps we had nothing to eat for thirty six hours the citizens near where we were was not very comidating some the boys went to see if they could get any thing to they got a little but they were treated so cooly they didnt bring any thing to camps two of the boys came to camps the second night and complained to Col Terry about the way we were treated not being relieved nor furnished any thing to eat Terry didnt like it and ast him why we were not shifty so when the boy came back to us and told what Terry said the boys make it up in the of a few turkeys I and Hugh had no hand in it though we hope to eat one of the turkeys The horses are turned over to an other man now we have nothing more to do with them. I dont recollect wether I stated in my first letter to you the reason why Jasper did not come he said he did not think he was skilful rider enough to join the cavelry he said he would remain with Keet Our firs Capt. [Thomas Harrison] has been elected Maj. King is our Capt. now R. Y. King

D. C. Jones

The Jones Family Papers, 1861-1862 (C#2235)
Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia, University of Missouri