Alexandria May 29 1863

 

            Dear wife I have a few minutes to write to you we arrived here this morning & will start again in a few minutes down the river on a boat we have had a hard march of it since we left Natchitoches the roads nearly shoe mouth deep in dust but I have stood the trip very well and am enjoying very good health at this time crops looks tolerable well down here the Feds have taken a good many negroes from this country & destroyed a goodeal of property besides I do not know how far down we will go for certain perhaps not farther than the next parish town and may be to port Hudson

 

I am sorrow to be so far from you but that is not my say so the federals have been trying to take vicksburg but have been repulsed with heavy loss at our men have provisions for six months at that place they have been bombarding port Hudson for a week but have not effected any thing yet I do not think will now there is some fine farms down this way the prettiest yards I ever saw any place but I have not time to describe them now we have corn bred & poor beef to eat sugar some times I expected to have received a letter from you here but have not as yet direct your leters now to this place Co I Hawpes Regt Spates Brigade I intended to have written you a full letter here but have not time the boys wrote last evening but I was on guard I want you to write me all the news & kiss the children for me and take as many as you want So hoping this may find you all well and doing well I remain your affectionate and devoted husband I will write as soon as I stop again

Thomas W Johnson /

 

Camp near Marksville Louⁱ May 30^th 1863

 

            Dear wife as I did not get to send my letter yesterday I will write you a few more lines now which I have a chance to send to Denton by hand we got on a boat yesterday evning and come down red River about 75 miles by water about 30 miles by land got off this morning and travelled about 12 miles to this place probably we will stay here to morry they are said to be fighting a little lower down towards Port Hudson though we hear a heap that is not so though I would not be surprised to meet them any day report is that we have whiped them badly at Vicksburg. the Feds have taken a good many negroes & mules & horses from this country report also says that England & France have declared war against the united States there are so many reports that I do not know what to believe we have had some hard marching to do through the dust then it is very warm in the day & cool at night evry thing is very high here flour 35 to 40 cts bacon 100 to 150 cts per lb vegetables in proportion Betty I have not much to write to you now if I could be with you I could talk to you till you got tired but I am getting a long ways off and am afraid it will be a good while before I have the pleasure of embracing you again. Oh if we could only have peace what a great blessing it would be but there is an over ruling providence in this war and he will manage it as seems best to him and I think the prolongation of this the institution of slavery rests upon the issue of this war if slavery is to be perpetuated we will gain the day if not I think it doubtful Lincoln has called out 500 000 five hundred thousand more men if he gets them we will have some hard fighting to do Scruggs has not come up yet Clark loring is here well James & Will Downard are here well I have not received any news from you since bent Wheeler come in I am so anxious to hear from you betty I want you to write to me & write all the news I thought I would have a letter before this time I never got any from Diamond either I think he ought to wrote me although I dont believe I could have gotten a transfer give my love to Jess & family and enquiring friends kiss the children & receive my love to you & may God love guide & protect you is the prayer of your affectionate husband   Thomas W. Johnson

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