Baton Rouge La. Aug. the 30^th 1863

 

Dear Mother & Richard

                                                this being Sunday morning I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that we expect to march every day as we had orders last Friday to Pack our Cloase in our Napsacks exept what we want to ware on our backs, and all we will take with us will be a Rubber & Woolen blanket we have turned our Napsacks over to the Post Quartmaster. Dear Mother I do not know when or where we are going. I have not heard any thing from you in some time but I hope this will find you well and Richard engoying good health I ame well at presant thanks be to God for health and strenth for it is the best blessing a Soldier cane engoy Some of our boys have got Furlows to go home and some are geting there discharge I would like to get a Furlow to go home and make a visit but I cane not get one now nor do I know when I cane it hes ben a little cooler for two or three days but it will be purty warm for two a month yet

 

Dear Mother it is gust a year a go to day / Since I was sworen in to the army of the United States, and I hope the rest of my time will pass away as soon a cordingely I sent you a littel Book a spell a go please write and tell me wheather you get it or not Dear Mother I do not think there will be much more fiting in this State the Collard troops are going to do the most of the guarding in the Forts they are putting all the collard men that they find loungind around in the Ranks. our Colnel hase gon home to get drafted men to fill up our Regt. well Mother they cane not draft me no more at presant I will write to you when we get to the end of our March I send my respects to Richard and James and your Self hoping that this war will soon end I remain as ever your Son

 

                                                                                                William. M. Bell

 

Here is some Sessesh watermillen Sead

SOURCES