Simmes Port May 18^th 1863

 

Dear Sister,

            If you saw the letter I sent Mother you will see that we was at Alexandria but by the heading above you will see that we have moved. we are ninety miles from Alexandria going towards Fort Hudson which place is entirely surrounded by our army and entirely cut off from provisions one of our cavelry scouts captured a rebel mail carrier with his mail right from Port Hudson and upon Examining some of the letters they said that they were entirely surrounded and their Provisions cut off. and they should either have to Evaqueate or surrender so I think they will be very easily whipped out of that stronghold. I am sorry that you do not get my letters often but sometimes it happens that we are so fixed that I cannot write but I write as often as I can I am glad that you can go to school. I hope you you will improve the opportunity of studying and I want you to look a little more to your writing as you may soon have to go among society and have writing to do and you want to aquire a good hand, so you will not be ahsamed when you are asked to write. I am glad that they are going to have a temperance society and I think it is a good plan too. but where we have to march so hard and sleep in the open air the doctors order that rations of liquor be given to the men to keep them healthy. I take my ration and reduce it and put it on my feet so as to keep them from getting sore. I do not it because I like it. no indeed. I am glad you have such an interesting teacher it must be very interesting to hear him talk the different languages and then explain them in English. I hope you will try and please him all you can.

 

While I was writing to you the order came to march and be ready in five minutes we packed up and marched to the landing where a Steamer awaited us to carry us across the Atechafalar pronounced “Chaf-a-liar” we went a little and further and pitched our shanties to await the transportation of the rest of the troops. the man that put that put that did it for show more than enything else. I sent in one of my letters that I wanted a pair of Shirts and Stockings some neadles and thread and beeswax large size neadles for black cotton. I received the Envelopes and Paper and Postage Stamps that picture about Fort Hudson looks just like it did the night we saw the bombarding. I was marching the day that I was Seventeen years old I would like to have spent my birthday with you but I am content with my lot as long as my health remains good as it is now and which I hope yours is and the rest of the family. I shall enclose you some magnolia bud leaves which are faded but they smell good. they were white they grow out in the woods which are very plenty and large I wish I could send you a bud as it grows on the trees. let Mrs Trefethen have one or two of them give my love to all hoping them well

 

                                                            from your affect brother

                                                                        Reuben Haworth

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