We left St. Paul last night about 5 o’clock with Governor Ramsey, the Governor of Minnesota, on board and about 25 volunteers on board going up to Fort Ridgely.

  Coming up this morning we [saw] a field, or rather a meadow on the banks of the river, which was pink with wild roses . . .

  They have a band on board which is now playing a tune I do not know what one. There are I should think over a hundred passengers on board, and it is a small boat, so that a great many of them have to sleep wherever they can around on chairs, or on the floor, or on trunks, etc.

  It is a beautiful day, rather hot in the sun and as the river is so narrow we can see everything on the banks very easily.

9:45 P.M.

  Since I wrote the above we have passed Le Sueur, Traverse des Sioux, St. Peter’s and Mankato, & we are now stopping at South Bend and I do not know but what we may stay here all night as the water is pretty low and the river is full of sand bars and snags . . .

  I am writing in my bed in my stateroom.