Letter from Ed Corman to his sister Allie:

Fort Larned P.F. Kan.
Nov 24th /62
Dear Sister

You must excuse my long silence for it is not every day that I have an opportunity of writing. Still - I think you will have to ask to be excused. I have wrote twice to your owner and have not heard from any of you for nearly two months. I don't know whether you did not write or whether your letters have been delayed.

You will observe by the heading that we are at this post. Thirty six of the Company left Fort Lyon on the 18th of Oct. On escort duty, we came down with a train of Indian presents for five Tribes the Comanches, Kiawas, Arapahoes, Shyannes and Apaches. We were nine days traveling of hundred and sixty miles. We only had two hours notice to get read in the train of seven wagons went on ahead of us. We did not get started till nearly night. We started in a hurry and some way or other we passed them without knowing it. I and some of the boys had to turn back and guard the train during the night.

We had a tolerable hard time for a few days. We never got into camp till after night. It turned very cold one night about midnight and we did not have our tents pitched. We nearly froze. We had to get out about daybreak and start with out our breakfast. As trains generally start very early and we had to start with it. It was so cold that it froze the Arkansas River entirely over. We traveled all day and not a stitch of timber in sight except some little cottonwood bushes. What fire we had we had to manufacture out of Buffalo chips, but we got through all right.

When we got down to the crossing, the Indians would not receive the goods as they was to have eleven loads instead of seven. We camped about five miles from their lodges. Col. [Jesse H.] Leavenworth sent a dispatch back to the rest of the train which was empty. They came up the same night after dark and we took enough out of the seven to load four more wagons. We done all this in the night. The next morning we had eleven loads, the number that was promised. We went on down to their camp and distributed the goods to each Chief of the tribe. After we got through with the goods one of the Chiefs gave the Col. two ponys and a mule. The Comanche Chief said that the others could not make him ashamed and he gave him the nicest pony I ever saw.

We left them just as it was getting dark and traveled twelve miles and camped. We had a good time the rest of the way down. The boys killed four buffalo one day. They killed one right close by the road. The Capt. And some of the boys has been out on a three day hunt. They killed a nice fat young cow and two calves. They took a bottle of strychnine with them. They killed eighteen large grey wolves. We have more buffalo meat than we want. Buffalo quarters are scattered all around our camp. We make a practice of using bacon to kindle fire with. Don't you think that is extravagant.

Lt. Dawson of the Colorado Troop was shot by a sentinel at Ft. Mackee which is up near the semeroune crossing. He was drunk and under arrest in the guard tent. The sentinel had orders to shoot him if he tried to get out. He came out and drawed his revolver on the guard and tried to drve him off the post. The sentinel shot him through the heart. He was brought down here and buried. He was hated by all the Soldiers of the Regiment, and our Company too.

Fifiteen of the boys got here yesterday from Ft. Lyon. There is about twenty five of the boys up there yet. Isaac [Ed and Allie's brother, also in the 9th Kansas Cav.] is up there. Twelve of the boys started to Ft. Mackee yesterday with some prisoners. We received four months pay since we came here. One month more there will be four months pay due us (Regulars) and four months irregular pay due us. We will get it all next pay day.

I would like to see all of you first rate. How is Mary getting along. Is she as wild as ever. Does she say anything about me. How is Heather and Mother, John and Mary and every body. I want you to write and tell me everything, and more to. And tell me what you are doing and how you all are getting along. We will not stay here this winter as there is not forage for our horses here.

I think we will go to Ft. Riley or Fort Scott to winter as soon as the rest of the boys get here. Give my respects to Mr and Mrs. Sonnborgh. The mail just came in and no letter for me. I will not write any more this time for there is no news. My love to all.

As ever thy Brother
E. Corman
"G" Co. 9th [Cavalry] Regt. Kans. Vols.
Fort Larned Kansas

Miss Allie Corman
Humboldt
Coe Co.
Kansas

I would have wrote to you before this but there was no paper at this post. And I left mine at Ft. Lyon with the expectation of going back there again. I will [not] write any more till I hear from home. Write as soon as you get this. E.C. Excuse the mistakes and bad spelling. And help Mary forty thousand times for me.