Lexington Mo[.] Sept[.] the 21st 1861 Dear Emma

I take this opertunity of droping you a few lines to let you all know that I am still well and all the Boys that is with mee[.] I hope these lines may find you all well & doing well[.] I hope that you are still at home & that you have not bin bothered with the Jay hawkers[.]

We reached this plase the 13th[.] our pickets & the Ennemys had a sevier [severe] scirmush [skirmish][.] we run them in to thare intrenchments, severl killed & wounded on Boath sids[.] I can not learn the no [number][.] we then pitched our tents on the fareground about one mile from town & commenst [commenced] preparing for the seage. the reason I call it the seage is that tha [they] were well fortified, the best I ever saw[.] on the Morning of the 18th at 6 ok [o'clock] we taken up our line of March for the Battlefild[.] about 4 ok [o'clock] we commenst the fight[.] we fought on all day [[MS. illegible]] and on all night[.] the Morning of the 19th the fight commenst with renewed vigor, lasted all day[.] not much firing dewring [during] the night[.] commenst [commenced] about day Break & fought on until about 4 ok [o'clock] when tha [they] made a despert effort to cut through our lines but tha [they] ware beat back behind thare white flag for to make a condeshnell [conditional] surrender but Gen[.] Price refused. told them he [ ] would have no condishions, that they had to surrender with out enny condishions[.] so tha [they] gave it up & we [ ] Marched up around the [fort?] [[MS. illegible]] down the Union flag & hoisted the Southearn & made them lay down thare arms[.]

I send you the official Report of the Property & Priseners[.]

4,500 Muskets[,] 6 Cannon[,] 2 Mortars[,] 3 Steam Boats[,] 800 Horses & Mules & seaverl [several] thousand dollars worth of grocerys[,] clothen &c[,] allso [ ] 800,000 dollars that tha [they] have robed our state of & the State Seal, all thare Bagage wagons camp equipage &c[.]

the Southern side lost about 100 [ ] killed & wounded[,] the federal sid 500 killed & wounded and we have 3,300 Priseners of ware[.] we sopose that tha [they] had over 4000 men when the fight commenst [commenced] but seaverl hundred deserted dewring [during] the fight[.] I did not get eny of my men heart [hurt][,] one Man from the Regment killed[,] a young Man by the name of Hale of Capt. Stones Companey from dry wood.

>I can not tell yet what will be the Moovement of the armey[.] thare is a report that Gen[.] Stearn with his command is to go down on the line to attend to the Jayhawkers cases & the Ballance of the army is to go to Jefferson City[.] I understand that the federalest is fortifying at Boonville[.] if tha [they] make a stand thare it will be some time before we will get to St. Louis[.]

I can not tell you at this time when I will be at home[.] I may not be at home before [[MS. illegible]] time is out & I may be thare in two weeks[.]

do not be discouraged[.] keep in good spirits[.] I think all will come out right[.] Continue to Pray to God to presearve us & our country from our enemys[.]

I Remane yours as ever W.L. Ball