Oran Perry, compiler, INDIANA IN THE MEXICAN WAR, (Indianapolis, Wm. B.
Burford), 1908, pp. 90. This book is available at the genealogy research
library, Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. NOTE: The
item below was abbreviated from the original as noted by the ellipsis.
Brookville America, September 11, 1846
Camp Belknap, August 12, 1846
Friend Clarkson-Inasmuch as we are apparently located for some time, I
thought I might as well drop you a few lines to let you know what is going
on, hoping you will return the favor. Our labor consists of the morning
drill for officers at 5 o'clock, including sergeants and corporals. At 7
o'clock a company drill of two hours; at 5 o'clock a regimental drill of two
hours; besides which there is water to be carried, ground to be cleared and
other things too tedious to mention. This the men are bound to do, and if
there be but few to do it, it is so much harder for those who have it to do.
Some companies have a large number of sick while other have but few. Our
company has been quite fortunate in this respect. We have lost but one man,
whose name was Thomas Batty from Bartholomew County.