New Madrid Missouri March 4^th 1862

            Mrs M E Keller

 

                                                                                                            Deare wife I embrace

this leasure opportunity to adress you a few liens from this place we left camp at Benton on the first day of this monthe and was three days in marching to this place and we expected to have quite a fight here on our arival but found the Rebels had several gun boats ready for us there infantry is a little below town in a Fort wher they are protected by the gun boats and they are also well fortyfied and are as well as we can learne about five thousand strong when we got close to town they let fly there shells at us some of them being shot from thirty two to sixty two Pounders we coulde heare them whine through the aire and frequently see them burst up in the aire some of the Boys in my Company dodged some times when the Balls whisled one man was killed on our side and two or three cripled our Cannon fiered a while at them an then fell back a short distance and camped our cannon are too small for to compete with thers Consequently we will I think lay here for several days untill we get on some larger Cannon then they will / have to get up and travel our regiment is camped in sight of town as near as I can learne we have about thirteen thousand men with us and they are keene for a fight in travling to this place we come through a splendid Country but in some places the roads wer awfull bad what pulling and hauling the last night we camped I tooke some of the Boys back and founde our Company Wagon fast in a mud hole we pulled it out and got Back in Camp at Midnight tiard wet and hungry and at 4 oclock in the morning got up and marched aheade. we are down in among the sesesh and do not heare what is going on I have not seene a news paper for one weeke and have not hearde from Bluffton for at least one monthe I sent you thirty dollars by Express from Cario and ten by Mr Draper and have writen you several letters and I have no doubt you have writen to me I will get them I hope before long how verry mutch it woulde please me to heare from you I think it will be but a few days untill we chase these devils away from here and also at Columbus 18 mile above here on the River and then we can heare from home evry three or foure days. when we whip them here the war will soon be over /

 

            at this time as I write I can heare the Cannon roaring up and down the river

 

March 5^th 1862

On yesterday as I was siting writing the order to strike tents was given and we have moved about a halfe mile closer to town and I this after noon will endeavor to finish my letter. on last night there was heavy Cannonadeing on the river about three mile from wher we are camped I have not learnt as yet what was the result but if they want to catch the devil let them come out away from the river. all is quiet here at this time our Regiment is engaged in diging two Wells for water we have been drinking water for two or three days out of mudholes Oh what horrible stuff it is you woulde not use it at home for to wash potatoes with the skins on but as the Boys say sutch is war. I ame well and hearty as I have ever been in my life but I have 82 men in my Company and have to day only 40 well men fit for duty with us they are scatered along betwen this and Kentucky poore fellows I wish they was all up with us I have only lost but one man he died with the Measels as I have nothing more to write at present I will Close I hope you are all well and doing well my love to my deare wife and children as ever  Samuel J Keller

 

N B direct to me 47 Regt Ind Vols

1 Brigade 2 division

Department of Missouri

under Gen Pope New Madrid

            by way Cario

                        Sam J Keller /

Mar 4, 1862

SOURCES