Camp at Ridles Point Mo March 23^th 1862

 

            Mr Philip Harter

                                                Deare friend I once more set down to adress you a few hasty liens and can say to you my healthe is good at present a few days ago I had a very severe colde and it come very neare geting me down I presume you have hearde of the evacuation of New Madrid and Fort Thompson by the Rebels after considerable skirmishing with us they at last run and left evrything behinde except there own deare selves our Regiment was at the Baterys to sustain them on the morning we got possesion of the place we expected a big fight on that day but they went on the theoary that he who runs to day will live to fight to morrow we got an immense quantity of property some very large cannon and plenty of amunition Wagons horses Mules tents &c they left in sutch a hurry as to leave there breakfast on the table and candles Burning our men was the first in the Fort it is a strongly fortified place several men was killed on each side during fighting the day before they left we are at this time seventeen mile below Madrid we have got two 24 pounder cannon here on the bank of the River whitch / keeps the Rebel Boats from coming up the guns wer hauled from Madrid by our men through water and mud and at night and in day time they was planted on the bank of the River and intrenchments thrown up around them our Boys dug holes on each side of the cannon and get in to them so as to protect them from the shot and shell of the enemy when our Regiment arived at this point we had but one cannon and it was about midnight but we fell to worke and got ready the enemy discovered us when day light come and come at us with five gun Boats and they give us a horrible canonading with shot shell & grape they come up so close that our Boys shot at them with there Rifles and we think killed some of them our one gun stood up to the works well and give them some severe shots our Boys never flinched although the Balls fell all around and Frequently threw dirt and water all over them but strange to say not a man was hurt our gun fiered 97 shots and the Rebels about 700 shots some of there Balls weighed 74 pound and some monster shells the devils had that Revenue cutter whitch they stole from us at New orleans it contained there / heavyest guns and woulde make the earthe shake when they was fiered off we are the farthest in advance of any of our troops down the River we have had a harde time of late we buried one of my best men yesterday poore fellow he leaves a family at home to mourn for him a geate maney of our men are sick. I must come to a close as I have got to take my Company and go out on picket duty I have not received a letter from you since we left Camp Wickliffe Ky neither have I received any from Malvina but on yesterday received two from a friend in Bluffton whitch informed me they wer all well it was glorius news for me to heare from them many of a night I lay my selfe down tiard and weary and fall to sleepe thinking of them. I hope this infernal Rebelion will soon be over and the roar of the cannon will be hearde no more along our own Missisipi valley and Indianas sons can go home and rest in peace

I ame yours as ever most truly

                                    Samuel J Keller

 

            N B Adress New Madrid Mo

            by way Cairo

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