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             Thurs. May 24th 1866  St. Louis, MO.

Very Dearest

 Have just returned from the Grand Excursion to the Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob. Have just got and read your letter of the 21sr I am exceeding sorry about Mrs. Furber coming and going without you. I thought at first I would start right off tomorrow morning for home direct; but upon reflection concluded it w'd be too late at that perhaps, besides that I ought to go to DuQuoin  However perhaps it will not make much difference, we will find some one going East to accompany you. I will stay my time out, and come home at my leisure. You get all ready to as to start any time you get a good chance: Then you can start whenever there is a chance, and take your time. I want you should have a good long summer to rest, recruit, and get fat & strong, lay in a stock of health & strength as they tell about, and as I am doing nowadays. Not worry and tire yourself visiting about at a thousand and one places all summer; but go there to George's. where you can have the whole benefit of the bracing sea air and just take your time for it, all summer. And I will try and arrange to come after you.

A great trip today; special train, 6 last Cars on the R.Rd Gen. Assembly 200 and about 100 citizens of St Louis. I wished greatly you were along (as the western folks say) many times, 87 Miles, starting at 7 A.M. Pilot Knob at 10. A great Iron Furnace by arrangement just ready for a blast ~( the running out of the melted Iron) which is quite a sight for one who has not seen it; and then the Climb up the Mountain which is just a big pile of solid Iron about 600 ft high; upon the ragged tops of which the picturesquely grouped party first sang America, then listened to sundry speeches of Welcome, and glorification, and description of surroundings, and of the battle ground in the plain below; then a prayer from the grand old Scotchman Dr. McCosh, singing etc. Then down the Mountain Pacific Dinner; and I guess there was food enough for a regiment of a thousand men. Visit the battle field & back to St Louis by 6 P.M. The N.S. Assembly is expected to adjourn on Monday next I may possible go to DuQuoin on Saturday, probably not however till Monday. I do not mean to stay there more than a day or two.