Letter #11

Helena Oct 31^st 1862

 

Emelia my dear Wife

                                    We arrived here Wednesday night but did not come on shore till yesterday. This is a small place and most of the people are black as the Whites have all run and left there slaves. We are camped about 2 miles from the town near the bank of the river. When we came to our camping ground it was the worst looking place you ever saw. the weads was as high as my head all covered with burs that would stick wherever they touched you, but we went at them and pulled them all up and burned them and we soon had a nice place / and had our tents all up and every thing in order We have nice little tents 5 men to each one. We are camped on Gen. Pillows plantation a Rebel Gen. There are about 10 thousand troops here all in good condition for a fight. We have a large city of tents and they mean something the camp fiers of the thousands here mean justice to God and man. I have looked at your picture many times I feel sometimes as if you and Ralph would speak to me I hope you are all well and happy I am well as I ever was I have not seen Dorrity this morning but I know he is well. I forgot to say that there is 6 gun boats here and we feel safe. I send you a paper printed on the boat and some cotton. God bless you my wife. Your own true George

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