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taken. The company numbers 64 a great many would join if they could had I not been active at the former meetings. I could not have joined, at first they thot of having 50 but others came in till it got to 60, a votes was passed not to take more. But when I arose on Sat eve and to told them it had been & still was my intention to go and should have been an actual member sometime previous had not unavoidable circumstances, prevented me, that I was ready and willing to fully conform to the terms of the constitution, all hands said I certainly must go & that they thought I was actually one of the party all of the time. So as luck would have it, I succeeded and through my influence 3 others came in so the company is now 64 selected men, all proposed by some second person who was well acquainted with them and then voted for as a member by the whole company who had joined before. They all seemed pleased to have me go - & I think generally they are those in whom I can trust yet I shall be on my guard. It is considered here to be a very fine respectable co. So you see I am bound to go- certainly I think it best. I am quite busy in getting ready. We start a week from today the 2nd of April. We meet all to gather opposite Layfayette Square in the afternoon dressed in our uniform as we call it, which is a suit of rather dark Satinette with gilt buttons on our coats & we put on a cap with the initials of the association which is W.C.C. M. A. Washington City California Association. We march in a body to the depot, accompanied by a band of music then take the cars for Pittsburg & then go on to independence & St. Joseph by way of Cumberland and the Ohio river. A committee went 2 weeks ago to get all ready

[left-hand side] Mother you are an excellent parent, a good Mother I know this & I shall not forget your kindness no never. But I beg of you, Mother, not to give yourself pain and uneasiness. Do not let me hear that you still feel bad & shed tears, but be cheerful & feel that all is to be for the best. I think so. I did not stay away from because I did not wish to see you. Oh no. I dream of you. I think of you daily and it is half my life to know that you are still remembering me tho I am away. I shall not forget you & I hope to be prospered, hope we all shall live and again have a happy meeting. I have no fears to the contrary. We cannot read the future but we ought not to borrow trouble. Now Mother do smile and be cheerful if you do not it may be that your trouble is uncalled for. I shall write to you a long letter and tell you everything. I am quite well. I shall write again if I send home my things. I shall send a few things perhaps and be particular to send them so that they will reach you safe. I know how. And there is no danger of loosing them. I will write to morrow & tell you where to send a letter after I start from here. I am going to plan it all first rate I think.

                                                                                                                                                               Yours truly, Charles

Give my love to Samuel, the girls and all the folks. Good night, Charles Reed