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Letter from Captain Jordan.

RURAL, R. I. Co., Ill., Jan. 21, 1862.

Col. DANFORTH — Dear Sir: When I left company A, 37th Regiment Ill. Volunteers on the banks of the Lamina, Missouri, December 31, ultimo, a large number of the men who resided in the vicinity of Rock Island, requested me to call on their friends and give them a detailed account of the doings of the 37th, to which of course I cheerfully assented; but owing to the severity of the weather, and my own indisposition, I have in a great measure been unable to do.

But as the ARGUS finds its way through snow drifts and swollen streams, to the fire-side of nearly all who have friends in the above named company, I will crave the privilege of informing those I have failed to see through this medium.

From this time we entered Missouri up to the date of my departure from the regiment, we had struck tents twenty-seven times for marching, by far the most severe of these was our forced march on Springfield, caused by a great lack of provisions, unquestionably, to heavy knapsacks, impenetrable clouds of dust, and painfully swollen feet; and yet, amidst all, the men were as jolly as larks, and only sighed for an opportunity to meet Old Price and his butter-nut hord, and forever settle the question as to the relative grit of the two parties. They, however, have long since learned that Missouri mustangs can outrun our best footmen, from the fact that they have had more practice since the rebels first mounted them. They have therefore settled down upon this resolve: That if the rebels' horses do ever get tired or lame, they will send at least some of their riders to the land where the Lincoln money is not a lawful tender, and where there are more rebels than union men.

From the first organization of the regiment to the present time, the men have been well supplied with good clothes, blankets and tents. Indeed, Col. White has done all in his power for the good of his regiment, both morally and physically, and the more we became acquainted with him the more we admired the man.

The quartermaster J. H. Peck, is always on hand, dealing out to the needy — indeed, a quartermaster should be a man of patience. There is no end to his task.

Adjt. A. Newman deserves special notice. Mr. Newman is a West Point graduate, a German by birth, and every inch a soldier. He is held in high esteem by the colonel, and indeed by the entire regiment.

It will be gratifying to all concerned to know that a charge of licentiousness or dissipation has never been made against any member of company A, since they entered Missouri. I am sorry to say that I cannot add "profanity." Let mothers and sisters when they write, caution their friends against this foolish and wicked practice.

I must close this already too long epistle by saying that the service is not so hard as many of us had anticipated, yet many had over estimated their ability to endure fatigue. Some of the men having the least physical ability grew strong, while the robust have fallen by the way side.

Be of good cheer, for there is really better days a coming, and that speedily.

Yours, truly, J. A. JORDAN.