Oskaloosa, Iowa
May 25th 1861 
Friend Barclay  
I wrote to you from  
St. Louis. On the 12th [inst?] I left that 
City during a dreadful excitement of 
which I gave you some acct in my 
letter. You have had all the particulars 
in the [papers?] before this time. I came [so far?] 
to Keokuk and then on to this [place?]. I have 
been here a little more than a week. And 
       by
am having my eyes opperated upon ^ an 
Oculist from Philadelphia who is stopping 
in this [town?] I think I shall get them in 
tirely cured in a few days. I have had 
an opportunity to join A Company in this 
town which leaves here from the place of [illegible in original] 
[illegible] on next Thursday. But owning to the 
situation of my eyes I could not go at this  
time. I was told by the Captain of A Company 
from Iowa City, while in Keokuk, that that they 
were raising A Company in Webster Co. 
I see [?] from this is the case; and I am par 
[-]ticularly anxious to join this Company if 
it is not yet full, I wish you would see 
the Captain of the Company, if he is any 
of our [illegible in original] men, and if his Company

is not full, on hearing from you, I think 
  will 
I ^ come directly  on to Ft Dodge and Join the
 Company if my services will be acceptable. 
I wish you would find out about this and
write me very soon for I am anxious to go. 
The report of Col Ellsworth assassination 
causes considerable sensation here. I hope & 
pray that every Secessionist with all who 
sympathize with the Secession movement
may be swept from the Earth. I listened
with profound interest to a Sermon in the
delivered
ME Church today ^ for the especial benefit
of the Oskaloosa volunteers. It was, indeed,
an impressive discours, well worthy the  
subject and the occasion. I received the  
[Aurora Bill] you sent back to me, and as
soon as I can come to Ft Dodge I will re-
place it. I will not write lengthy at this 
time, Although I feel considerable religious 
and rather patriotic from the stirring events 
of the day.  If I have any acquaintances 
in the Ft Dodge volunteers please tell them
that I want to go with them and think I can 
make a Soldier. Please write on the receipt  
of this, Direct Oskaloosa Iowa and excuse 
 my hand for it is time for the Mail to close.
I remain as ever your friend,
R E Carpenter