Camp 71 Ohio Vet Vol Inf

                                                                                                Near Green Lake Texas

                                                                                                July 12^th 1865

 

Dearest Mollie

                        I will write to you this morning all tho I cannot boast of my good heath I blieve I fare as well as any of my comrads but fortunately for us there is no disease among us but the cause of our illness is fatigue and the effects of being on the salt waters. in the first place we were five days on the ocean then landed on the shore of the Matagorda Bay and was compelled to march thirty Eight miles with out any water only that we got at New Orleans which was vary poor and scarse. I do think it was the severest march our Corp ever made I saw the men fall on the way and pray to be shot to keep from perishing and yet they would not murmer or grow angry I allso saw men steal / milch cows (that was being drove through to the lake to water) and milk them to keep from falling as others had done I will give you the number of men we had when we started from the coast then the number we got here with that you may know our lose We had ten Companys and three hundred and nintty four men when we left the the Bay and when we got here we had seven men and four companys. Showing a loss of three hundred and eightyseven men but I blieve the most of them have been hauled in to camp and donot think vary many of them dangerous but canot say only for my own company and I see all of our men can sit up but alase our task is but half done for we have just as far again to march after leaving here without water

 

We are on our way to Auston the Capitol of the State distance one hundred and forty miles from here but I am writing or trying to write to mutch I fear you will tire of me I trust this will find you enjoying your usual good health /

 

Please excuse my pencil and consider this from a tired but faithfull Soldier Whos only injoyment is serving you and his country. Now I will close

 

Plese write soon if worthy Direct to Auston

Texas after my best wishes and undying Love

to you Dearest

                        I Close

                                    Webb

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