I send you a picture of my tent

we have raised it up with logs

Letter #13

 

Helena Ark Nov 24, 62

 

My dear Wife Emelia,

                                    Since I last wrote I have received 2 letters from you, a line from Mr. C in each and one from Maro, all of which wer very welcom but your letters I prize above all others. I have been on an expedition since I last wrote, but like many others it did not amount to anything I will tell you all I know about it. A week ago last Saturday about noon we wer ordered to cook 3 days rations and that was all we knew till about 7 Oclock we wer ordered to get ready to march. we wer then marched onto a boat but did not start till Sunday. There was about 10 thousand men went / on 15 transports We had 2 gun boats to go with us. After much delay and form which must be in all military moves we steamed down the river, gun boat ahead and the transports in line. There was nothing transpired of interest on the way, or seen, for there is nothing to be seen but trees, and now and then a plantation with one large house and Negroe quarters all around it We found we wer going down about 70 miles to White river and go up that river to fight Rebels &c &c. Well we went down to White river and after much delay and fooling we started up one behind the other we went up about 1½ miles and stoped the boats all tied up to the shore close together. it was a bad looking place, nothing but mud and trees. in the morning they / said we could go up no farther as the river was low and a bad bar just above so we turned around and all came back to the big river and went on shore. Gen Hovey was in command of the expedition and he sent one boat back to Helena for 20 days rations &c. and we thought sureley we should make a strike somewhare. The Cavalry went scouting and the Infantry for forage. We saw plenty of Negroes but no Whites except a few women. We wer not allowed to touch any thing in or around the houses but we could take potatoes kill hogs beef sheep &c. I killed two sheep which was all we wanted. I will tell you more about them if I live to see you. Friday we wer all ordered on board the boats / and just as we got out into the river we saw the boat comeing with our provisions &c. but we kept on up the river and she turned around and we all came back to Helena. Thus ended the grand expedition to White river. I have not been quite as well since we came back I took some cold but am geting better. I was much pleased with Ralphs letter and I shall write him one to send in this. I wish I could get hold of him and if I can get back to you all again I will never leave you. I did not receive the last papers you sent. I am glad to get papers but your good long letters are all that keep me alive. tell Mr Campbell to write as often as he can I will finish tomorrow /

 

Nov 25. I feel better today than I have done since we came back from White river. You say old Williams says there will not be but about 100 bushels of corn I know better and I shall have a reckoning with him if he steels, and you must get some one to go up and look at the corn and report to you what they think of the amount raised. you ought to have 200 at least. I wish I was there to look after him. I hope you will be able to get a better man. I wish you could get a little girl to stay with you as it would cost less to keep them than Mrs D. and child but you must use your own judgment in all things. I suppose you have heard that our Lieut. Col. and Maj wer taken / prisoners. they crossed the river with Dr. Hudson and went out beyond the pickets without leave Dr Hudson was behind and by fast riding got away I understand they will be discharged. I sent you an order in my last to get my bounty please let me know if you got it. John D. and all others are quite well I must write a line to Ralph. Write as often and long as you can. Bless you my dear Wife if I ever return I will try to show that I apreciate you. I have just received another letter from you I am blessed more than deserve. I will answer it soon

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Ralph my darling boy. I was glad to get your little letter. When your papa gets home he will hug and kiss you as hard as he can. you must be good and kiss Mama and baby for me. I see lots of little boys and girls but they are all black and are not happy like as Ralph is                                                                                          

Your papa.

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