According to the Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, at this time the designation of James’s regiment changed as troops were organized and reorganized in Kansas. On December 31, 1861, James became first lieutenant of the company of men that he recruited. This company became part of the 9th Kansas, or 1st New Mexico, Infantry Regiment. At the time of this letter, the company had reorganized again, to the 2nd Kansas Cavalry Regiment.

Camp Hunter
Jany 19th, 1862

My Dear Molly

This fine cool Sunday Evening, I wish to have my usual tete-a-tete. I could have wished that I had Molly by my side but that I had put all that from me for 3 months & so no more of it.

I hope you Sally & Annie, & in fact all the folks are in good health, & enjoying yourselves sleighing and otherwise, now while it is so favorable, for I can hardly believe that the few miles I am West of you can make much difference

James says he hopes Molly is enjoying herself "sleighing and otherwise," perhaps ice skating like these people. “The Skating Season – 1862.” Harper’s Weekly, January 18, 1862. Missouri History Museum.

You are really very fragile, more so than you are willing to believe, & if you knew how much pleasure it w'd give me, not to speak of all your friends, & their name is legion, to see you stout & healthy in the Spring, why you would not over exert yourself but take a leaf from Sallie's book & amuse yourself, for my sake - Now do! and I will promise to take so much care of myself & try to manage so that you will yet be proud of me.

Things here move very slowly & take such contradictory turns, that there is no accounting for them. The rumors founded seemingly on fact & authority are too numerous to mention. The facts so far as heard from are these

Jim Lane has failed to get his Major Generalship & M.G. Hunter reigns in his stead so we are not as yet attached to the Southern Expedition but the M.G. says he requires all the Kansas troops, & so we are under orders for Fort Scott down in S. East Kansas within 3 miles of Missouri & 20 miles of the Indian Territory - in other words on the border for which service we were recruited - while the remainder of the Kansas Troops & 20,000 others follow Hunter to N. Orleans or death - So much for this winter, & in the Spring we have the assurance that if any troops can be spared for New Mexico, we shall go.

The arrangements to fill our regiment with the Kansas 2d were all carried out as I informed you in St. Louis though not completed until the 17th Inst. There having been so many obstacles thrown in the way, & so many inducements held out to Major Cloud their commander to do otherwise - but it is now accomplished - & as the more honorable number we are now the Kansas 2d & carry Springfield on our banners thus gaining a little cheap glory without any risk of life or limb - You dont believe in glory do you! gained in this or any battle field when any of the loved ones lives are at risk? I dont think you do! but strange to say masculine human nature craves for Glory as it does for money or any other supposed human good - unless quite craven - just as feminines do for dress or position in society for themselves or husbands but to return - We have many troubles still. I had to leave about 100 men in St. Louis by a special order of Gen. Halleck dated the day I left & all of them had to go into St. Louis Regiments - 50 or 60 more had to be left in Illinois the same way. These men were part of our bargain in the consolidation, & a very important part; besides there had been a petition before Congress & the Sec. War, to make the 2d Kansas a Mounted Rifle Regiment, this had been often refused but the Petition was still pressed, & on the 17th was granted (the same day you will observe as we were consolidated by orders of the Governor & General here.

Now either of these causes may wreck the whole enterprise, but it is at present under consideration at headquarters, and I expect it will come out all right

I shall try & keep you posted as to the facts - not the rumors

I have been very busy since I arrived here. Various matters & things claimed my immediate attention but among other things I have found time to pitch a splendid Tent, to improvise a good bed for two, & to inaugurate a roaring little stove, which keeps all as warm as your parlor with snow all around six inches deep, & frost such as you can imagine - It is very pleasant notwithstanding, and as it will be probably 3 or 4 weeks before we get our arms & get out of this imbroglio, & make necessary preparation to go South, we will in the meantime luxuriate here_, & when I get a little more privacy, I will try to make my letters more racy & expect in return a flight of your usual charming little billet doux’s

I will try & spare time ere I can post this to write to either Wm. or Alex & so enlighten the natives but I do so long to hear from you - that I cant spare them a line until I can secure the wished for pleasure

Love to yourself & all your & my friends - "Sub rosa" of course for the present –

Meantime I am as ever

Yours Sincerely
James E. Love

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