1862 
Kentucky Camp [illegible] Sept 15th 
Dear Friends [illegible] 
I find myself [illegible] Morning 
while a few are [illegible] here we are in old 
Kentuck on the Bank of the Ohio River 3 
mi West of Cincinnati South Side of the 
River on a large hill and Entertainment 
all around us there is lots of [illegible] 
here & [illegible] & [illegible] and what 
100000 Men in arms [illegible] 
Cleared [illegible] as [illegible due to tear in paper] 
are South West of [illegible] of us 
they have been seen by and [illegible] as small 
Squads of them I as on [illegible] 
the other day and the [illegible] went 
in [illegible] and By & By the guns 
Began to [illegible] + down came the Cavelry 
Scart half to death told us to leave an [illegible] 
and Run as the [illegible] would catch us 
we fierd and Run or walked to head 
quarters and formed again 
and went Back to our posts stayed 
there all Night and it Rained like 
hate met the whole community thence 
we had orders that if the Said Cavelry  
Came Back in Such Confusion to Change 
Bayonet on them and make them go 
Behind us But they did not come. While 
there I could hear the Rebles fire their 
guns and beat their drums I wish they 
would come and Shoot at us we would  
Return fire gladly I Suppose we will 
[illegible due to tear in paper] the chance Second in the so 
[illegible] have Been in 3 different camps 
They think the Michigan Bays are 
good grit and they will find them so 
I do not get lonesome as I Supposed 
I Should. it is warmer here than it was 
at home they think we will leave here 
Before long we had Preaching here 
yesterday By the [illegible] Co Lieutenant 
I Should like to be home Sundays & Sunday  
Nights 
I hardly see a woman here But 
Lots of Men horses & Guns & tents 
& hand [illegible] & ham & Coffe & 
Forks spoons plates [illegible] & [illegible] 
this is in a Soldiers Life 
the Boys ar well [illegible] our squad and 
they feel well. Mos them [illegible] 
Same but he will find it [illegible] 
this is no place to [illegible] Baby 
it is stand up and grab Root [illegible] the 
I shal grab as [illegible] as I have [illegible]  
once I Musnt [remainder of line illegible] 
I have Wrote this is 8 letters & have not 
Received a letter  Now by friends I want you 
to [illegible] tell Rest to write and often to 
[illegible] dirty paper [illegible] Writing [illegible] 
& Nex time I’l  Something More Interesting 
^ write up 
you May [illegible] Hate for me and all 
the girls you please for I Cant 
Give my Love to all [illegible] friends 
From Bay [illegible] South on a hill 
R E Stout 
Postoffice Adress 
Cincinnati Ohio 
18th Regt Mich 
Infantry 
 
 
Or  
18th Mich Infantry 
 
Write Soon 
I hope you will Remember 
to pray for those that 
Deserve it I am shure that I do 
And if I never Reach [crossed out word] 
My home on Earth to Meet my  
friends May we Meet in that 
land where [illegible] no more 
from a friend Ralph O Stout 
[illegible] 
William and Malvina