After more than a month of inactivity, presumably in St. Louis, James Love finally left for Kansas. Troops were being gathered at Fort Leavenworth for an expedition to New Mexico to prevent an invasion of the state by rebel troops.

North Mo. Depot
12 M. - Decr 3rd/4th 1861

My Dear Molly

I dont wish to start without bidding you good bye I got orders to leave at 4 o.c. in the afternoon, & when I got out to camp & got the men down here it was near eleven. I expect to be down in a week or less, so it does not matter so much - Capt Herd is dangerously ill from congestive chills - which is the cause of my sudden change of plan. I have had charge of the Company since Monday morning & it thus added much to my duties, but dear me this change from killing ennui to action has renerved me, & I feel myself again - You shall see when I return what a flow of spirits I will have

James moved from the river to the rails. He traveled back to Kansas via the North Missouri Railroad. The North Missouri Railroad map, 1866. Missouri History Museum.

So we are for New Mexico at last notwithstanding your prophecies to the contrary last Sunday night & I had almost begun to look on your words as oracles - & had only this morning given up all hope, & made up my mind to be disbanded - but no such luck -

I hope all is for the best. I wish to have a long conversation with you when I return. I’ve had many things to say for some time but in the unsettled not to say worse state in which I & all were in I could not begin did not know where to begin - while I seemed so much on the downward grade

I hope now Excelsior will be the Motto & the performance too

My dearest girl I write in much haste & with sincerest love & esteem

I am
Ever yours
James E. Love

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