Hd Qr^s 26^th Ill Inft October 7^th/63

On Board Steamer “Sir W^m Wallace”

 

Dear Sister Jennie

 

                                    You will be some what surprised to learn that I am on my way north again

 

            Now you must not take a conniption on the strength of, for I dont expect to come farther than Memphis. But it seams like getting near America once more to think we are going to Memphis.

 

            We left camp on Big Black about eight oclock the eve of the 28^th & marched about four miles it was very dusty I have been act adjutant for some time past & (I had a very fine horse to ride) after marching about four miles we bivouact for the night & just as we wer laying down by the side of the road it began to sprinkle & rain I had my rubber coat was all I could rais for a bed. I put it on turned up the collar which reached above my ears & only left a couple of inches of the top of my head beare I lay on my right side & smoothed my hair from the left side to the right & it made/ a very good kind of a thatch roof & run the water off lik the back of a duck My coat was long enough to reach down below my boot tops so you see with a chunk for my pillow I was nicely fixed & slept soundly all night. Sept 29^th we marched into Vicksburg & went on board Steamer Sir W^m Wallace We left Vicksburg on the eve of the 30^th arrived at Griffiths landing Friday afternoon & remained there untill Monday morn. Satturday & Sunday Several of us Officers took our horses on shore & took such nice rides. This man Griffith before the war was the richest man in Miss he was worth several Million dollars this farm of his contained 8000 acres He had Six plantations. the capt of our Boat told me that he sold Griffith four years ago for his own family use 4000 lbs. of pork at one time. His average crop of cotton is or has been 8000 bales. He has not raised any corn or cotton since the war broke out & has but 3 old nigger women who are so old they couldent leave. One lb of pork will feed his family this year

 

Memphis Oct 10^th We sail for Chattanooga tomorrow morning.

            Good By there is fun ahead

                                                            Noble

SOURCES