Linneus November 10th/61 Dear Sue

Yours of the 1st was recd. last Tuesday, found all well and glad to hear the same from you. I should have answered the next day but have had so much company since I could not find time to write. Greg has been here[,] to morrow will be two weeks, he is here recruiting but expects to go away to morrow or next day[.] he is making up a company of Cavalry and is going to New Mexico in the spring[.] he has done very well since he has been here. Friday one of [[MS. illegible]] your Kansas men Jack the Jayhawker came here, and has been here ever since[.] he is going away with Greg[.] they talk of going from here to Kansas to get a company and go down to Lexington and clear it out and move you all up there some where. I have been trying to get them out of the notion but Jack says he is going if he dies in the attempt, he may be a very nice man for all I know but he is so great a dare devil so smite me. I wish Greg had gone away before he got here, for I am afraid he will lead him astray, he has been in too many tite places to be all right. But I may judge rong. He thinks a great deal of you all, and says you have seen trouble enough to never see any more. I am as anxious to get you away from there as any body living, but I am afraid there plan is a bad one, for if they should get [[MS. illegible]] again he would never get away alive again. they do not want anything said about them[,] they want to take them by surprise if they do come[.] they went to the country last night[,] have not got back yet. I will not say any more about them now, but wait till they get home and maby they will have something else to say.

Chas left St[.] Louis last week[,] has gone up the other side of the river making up a company of his own. I have not heard any thing from Will since you wrote[.] I have been looking for him here ever since you wrote. Tom came home last Tuesday night[.] went away next morning, they were on their way to Chillicothe from St[.] Louis[.] they will stay there this winter[.] I am going to board there this winter. I would have staid here if you all could have come over[.] Tom is not willing for me to come over there[.] I can board there as cheap and can keep house here and then I am all alone. I should felt better if we could all been together but I don’t think it is intended so we had as well quit trying.

I had a letter from Tom this morning[.] he said he would be at home in a few days to take Willie and I up there with him[.] I don’t expect to go yet for a week or to for I have some cloths to make for Willie and me[.] I expect I will come home when I get up there to see you all[,] if there is not too much [[MS. illegible]] on the road I [[MS. water damaged]] to see you all so much, I know you are [very?] lonesome[.] I have waited until dark for Greg to come but he has not come yet so I will close as I can think of nothing else to write, answer this as soon as you get this. God bless and protect you all is my prayer.

Your devoted Sister E.R.B.