Letter signed Alex [Badger], Camp Douglas, U.T., to Mother [Mrs. Alexander Badger, Sr., St. Louis]. Nothing of particular interest has transpired since the Indian fight on Bear River. The total number of Indians killed in the fight is two hundred twenty-five – the number of soldiers killed is twenty-five. Expeditions will leave the post in the latter part of this spring to hunt up Pocatello and his band of Indians. Pocatello is a very bad Indian and has been guilty of much mischief. Describes some of the actions. I enclose a sketch of the Camp of the Third Infantry with the Great Salt Lake in the distance. Describes Camp Douglas and some of the aspects of Great Salt Lake. You wouldn’t know your “boy” now, he has such stunning whiskers and the mustachios is about as far advanced as mustard is, when fit for “greens.” There are no girls in camp to appreciate them. We are to have a shindig on St. Patrick’s Day in the morning. Most of the Third Infantry are Irish and of course St. Patrick is as great a man as Fourth of July. Individuals mentioned: Lieutenant Ustick, John Campbell, and Mr. Hooper. Places mentioned: Bear River and Sacramento., 1863 Mar 2

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

Collection contains material of the St. Louis-based Badger family, including letters of Capt. Alexander Badger, Sr. and Jr.; newsclippings; bonds; steamboat memoranda; a pilot certificate issued to William H. Cable in 1852; envelopes of Wells Fargo and Overland Mail; cards of steamboat Magnolia and a timetable of St. Louis railroads and steamships; material concerning the Badger, Cable and Cayton families; two Missouri defense bonds issued in 186-; and several letters of Alexander Badger, circa 1860, written from Fort Vancouver, Western Territory, and various places in the west, which describe everyday happenings.