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San Antonio de Bexar, Sept. 18/46

My Dear Bigelow: It is not the receipt of your very acceptable favor of 12th ult. (which did not come to hand until last mail) that alone has stimulated me to the "momentous task" of scribbling you a letter. I already had your name on my "correspondents' list;" and was only waiting until I could tell you something definite as to the week or month, if not the day or hour, of the march of our "Army of Chihuahua." But this I cannot even yet venture to do "upon my own responsibility;" though I am informed that the "General Commanding" has appointed next Tuesday as the most probable time of our departure. Yet I still say, as I have said all along, that, if we get fairly under way ("provided always," we ever do) before the first of October, those charged with preparations and arrangements, will have to "get up earlier, and sit up later" -- work harder, faster, in more ways, and to better advantage -- than they have been doing heretofore. You are already apprised, no doubt, that this division of our Army, under command of Brig. Gen. Wool, is destined for the "invasion of Chihuahua." The entire force of which it is to be composed, is now quartered at four or five different encampments, in this vicinity. And though I have been in the habit of summing

written along left margin I should be gratified to hear from you often. If you hear of the advance of our army toward Chihuahua direct to me in "Northern Mexico, care of John Lewis Esq. Independence, Missouri"; as that is the route by which my correspondence will be most likely to reach me.