Jefferson City Mo.
		     Oct. 27th. 1862
Dear Sister Cate
		  I received Mrs. Vantuzes
letter to day bringing the sad news of
Thomas' death. certainly that is a great
affliction. perhaps the greatest that
can happen to a family is to lose by
death either husband or wife.
Thousand of homes are made desolate
by this dreadful war. I would rather
hear that he was made comfortable and
had  a decent burial. than to hear that
hear that he died in a rebel prison.
were I situated so I could I would come
and stay with you this winter.
I am keeping house. I have a young lady
staying with me for company and going
to school. I believe I wrote you about
going to Helena to see Mr Payn.
since then the company has come in
to Missouri all except him. when 

I was there he was staying about six
miles in the country. he had been sick
a long time and useing river waters
made him worse so he with some others
was Sent out in the country to [reemit?]
on the 5th of this month he went into
town and they had orders to march about
midnight. he went back to call in the
other men since which time nothing
has been heard of him. I do not know
whether he was killed on his way back
and left on the top of the ground or
whether he was taken prisoner by the
guerrilla bands that are all through the
south. Charlie has gone or is going down
to try and find out something about it.
if I only knew whether he is alive or
dead then the mind would be more at
rest but now. I dont know what
to think nor what to do.. we all have
our afflictions to bear in this world. we
all feel as though we have all we are
able to bear. Dwights boys are all in
the army except Baz. Frank & Sereno
are both in Saint Louis. John is near
washington. nearly every man under
forty five about here is in the army
I still hope Mr. Payn will yet come
home, but if he is at Little Rock in
prison the chances for him to come
back are only ninety nine out of a
hundred. his health was so poor and
then to throw into prison and fed on
corn bread without salt and water I
am afraid will make his disease worse
and end in death. write to me often as
you can. with kind regards to Mrs. Vantuze
and love to all am your Sister
		Deb Payn