Camp Benton Mo. Sept. 8. 1861
My dear wife
I started from Jefferson Barracks at 4 oclock yesterday but got along so slow it was dark when the train left the city. I had sent a wagon with my furniture, so William got here, but I remained at the Everett house, sleeping once more in a full grown bed.
I found the Barrack got up on a vast scale. Two long rows of plank buildings extending in the following form:
This extends about a mile in length. The house is quite commodious built in 4 ½ days. I will have to have you to take charge of it so you may as well bring our whole household furniture, and our Carriage along. There is no doging it. I am to have the “Camp of instruction” now with a certainty. My command is to be very large if the Generals plans are carried out and I will want you and Sadie to help me with your taste in keeping the household affairs all snug.
Genl Fremont will be out here to inaugurate matters on Thursday, and I wish you could, all be here. I will Telegraph I believe tomorrow and possibly you may some of you get here.
Sadie might come. But on the whole I guess you will not be able to get ready in time. However this may be, prepare to come. I don’t want the cooking stove or stove furniture, and I can have dining table kitchen table and such things made here. But carpets, beds, chairs (except very old ones, and including the hickory ones) stand ornaments for rooms and Bureaus will be convenient and necessary. The rest you can stow away in the extra rooms reserved as before directed. Always retaining one permanent residence as I have before arranged it.
If you have one or two girls that you prefer to keep, let them come also, although you know best about that.
It will not cost much to move our things. The packing will be the worst job. Steam boats wont charge much for the freight and I will send teams and men from here to haul the things from the river right into Camp. That man on Main Street should paint up the Carriage. He owes me.
All this will give you much care and trouble I fear but we are in for the war and must suit ourselves to the occasion. The pomp and circumstance of war has to be arranged and our Major General wants it done up on a grand scale here at Camp Benton.
While the plaster and paint are drying in my quarters I have taken a very humble place in a company quarters at the point marked “A” in the diagram. I have issued order No 1 assuming Command and a special order detailing l/20th of each command for police and white washing duty.
Having thus begun my duties and concluded this letter I will close the labors of a weary Sunday with this epistle to you and repair to my cot which William has carefully spread for the occasion
Affectionately yours
Saml R. Curtis