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4th

And how the people did laugh to se the short leged duck and [insh?] puff under their big packs and finaly fall behind. The Americans are the best runners. Last week or in the fore part of this week rather we all fell in and marched down to Springfield both infantry and cavalry. We had to be out on the parade ground ready to march by daylight. When we got to Springfield we paraded through the principal streets the cavalry going ahead. We all marched in sections of four and our line extended pretty nigh all through town. When I came along side the state house I was forcibly strict with the opinion that it was considerable of a house. I though I would like to buy it. We now retired to a praire close to Springfield and fed our horses got our dinners which consisted of bread and fat pork that we had taken with us