[Written on top left hand side of Scan 1]

We hear. they are going to issue
two squaws to each officer after we
   get settled. Our darkey thinks
    he does'n't want any. as one
    old squaw that he saw yesterday
              had 25 children all of a [illegible in original]
		calling her “Ma” and
		thinks he could'n't support
		a woman that had more
		  than one child at a time
		  and these have six or
		  eight. I have'n't any such
		  scruples however

[End]

		Camp Seventh Michigan Cavalry
			Fort Collins C.F.
				July 28th 1865
	Dear Nell
		   I have not written you since leaving
Julseburg. and did not intend to commit such an
act again until I had received an answer to some
one of the half dozen or more letters I have written since
leaving Fort Leavenworth.. but on arriving here and finding no
mail awaiting us and being compelled to still continue our
“onward march” I thought it best to write you a few lines
and give you orders to direct your letters in future. “until
further orders” to “Fort Collins” Colorado Territory.
     Here we commence entering upon our duties. We are to be
divided up in small detachments and stationed at diffirent
points along this route to Sulphur Spring 210 miles west
of here.. Two companies are to remain here. Our company
is to commence leaving men soon after leaving here.

     I shall probably be stationed 30 or 40 miles from here. but
whether with my Captain or not I can not say. Four more
companies go to Fort Halleck. 125 miles from here near
the “snowy mountains” where they have snow. fish. flesh and
fowl in abundance the year round. (By the way I have
just learned that I am going with Captain Clark to Virginia
Dale 13 miles from here. “am'n't I glad I'm out of the wilderness”)
     Almost every one wanted to get stationed here but for
my part I cared nothing about it. whether I remained
here or went to the furthless limit of the route.
     Our route march from Julesburg was along the
banks of the South Platte to Cary and Holman's Ferry
near the mouth of the Cache le. Pourdr (“K shlass” as a
chap told me) creek when we crossed the train on ferry boats
and the cavalry forded it then followed the Cache le Pourdr
to this point. The march was dull and monotonous with
nothing of general interest occurring. The country along
the Platte was much the same as we had found since
leaving Kearney. and it was not until we reached [illegible in original]
Orchard that we camped near timber enough to build

     a fire of seventeen days after leaving the Little Blue
     the longest time I was ever away from timber and I tell
you it releived my aching sight mightily. A day or
two after leaving Julesburg Lieut Clark and myself took
two men, with the permission of the Major Commanding
and went “hunting” The men took “seven shooters” and
we our revolvers. I, not dreaming for an instant that I
should see anything worth carrying a carbine for..
    Striking out of into the country two or three miles from
the trail we wandered around an hour or two without
seeing anything bigger than a jack rabbitt. when we
struck a “Galvanized dough boy.” (a rebel prisoner who has
enlisted into our army) who told us that if we would go
back eight or ten miles into the prarie we would find
antelopes in troves. As we were all well mounted and
knew that we could easily over take the command before
night we “lit out” and on ascending a little hill some
six or seven miles from the route, we looked down into a little
valley almost circular in form and half a mile in diameter
and sure enough there they were. About 30 of them with

their white tails laid on their backs and scudding
before the wind like a full rigged ship. We got
several shots and got empty guns every time
We wandered through the prarie for some four hours
during which time we saw at the smallest calculation
200 of the “little critters”  I want nothing of the country
along the Platte.. Back from the river it consists of valleys
and hills. hills and valleys. some of them covered with rank
“Buffalo Grass” some with “California Sunflowers” Daisies Pinks
Prarie roses and some with nothing but buffalo bones.
     This Creek is one of the most beautiful streams that
I ever knew the water clear. cold and sweet. the banks low. well
covered with timber and flats or meadows covered with the
most luxurious grass and richer than mud. There are a 
large number of farmers who raise large crops of grain and
make money as easy as dirt. We are now about ten miles
from the base of the Meridian Bow. Mountains.. and have been
in sight of them for three or four days. Longs Peak. and the
tops of the Rocky Mountains have been in sight. but all with
the exception of Longs Peak are now hidden by the Meridian Bow.
range. The country here is more than usually level and
we can look eastward. north and south. till our eyes become
tired We have seen a few squaws. the Indians are off on a
hunt. Yesterday we passed near a village of some 18 –
or 20 lodges and some 10 or 15 squaws were out visiting a
train that had halted for dinner nearby. Some of them were
dressed quite modestly and as they sat perfectly still presented
a very good appearance. One little wretch some 14 or 15 miles years
old was dressed in a blue denims shirt that reached to her thighs
without sleeves. breeches or drawers.. It was strongly reminded me
of the shirt that Melissa made me and put a “crupper” on it. as it
was fastened at the bottom in a similar manner.
     As usual you have my best wishes and may write
as you see fit
				Your Brother
						Ed