To Mrs. Lyon
Camp Cairo, Cairo, Ill., Sunday a. m., Jan. 26, 1862.—The weather is fine, mud all dried up, and we drill every day four hours. The health of the men is good, except some diarrhœa occasioned by drinking the river water. This water looks like weak coffee with milk in it, it is so muddy, but it tastes very well. I do not drink any of it. My drink is almost entirely coffee. I keep out of the night air and take every possible care of my health, and with entire success. When warm weather comes there will be a good deal of ague here.
