Sept 14^th 1863

Elgiers, Across the River from New Orleans La

 

My Dear Mother

                                    I take this opornity to let you know that I have returned from an expedition to Sabine Pass which has proved a falure thus far. Our Bragade left Baton Rouge the second of this munth we got on Board of Steam Boats steame down to New Orleans ankered and staid there to the 4^th then we started for Sabine Pass but we did not know where we ware going we we sailed by the way of Berwicks Bay we got out to Sabine Pass the 8^th there was 4 or 5 gun boats and 7 or 8 river boats the river boats ware lodet with troops Our Compeny was put on a gun boat in the morning to bne used as sharp shuters the name of the gun Bote is Granite City Compeny H of our Regement was put on the gun boat Satchem the gun boats Cliften & Satchem went up in range of the fort and commenst shelling it but the Rebs did not fire a gun to we got in good / Range of them the put a ball thrue the Boiler of the Satchem and it must have scalded a good many She run up hir white flag Co. H of our Reg^t was on hir & what is not scaldet I sopose is taken prisiners then the Cliften run up She made for the Fort they Rebs throwing shot and shell in hir she tried to run up close anuff to get under there guns but she run a ground and the soon disabled hir she histed hoisted hir white flag the Chanel is very narow an shalow so that Big gun boats cane not get up cloose anuff to reach the Fort the gun boat that we ware on was not b hir guns was not big anuff to reach the fort so that we ware not cald in the Action but we ware to cover the landing of the troops but as soon as the two gun boats ware disabled we had to make out to sea as the Rebs had some Cotton Clads up in the lake one good Moniter would have taken the most of us I think this expedition was very badly mannaged I wished Banks had ben with us we would not have had sutch work / the rest of the expedition started back the next morning for New Orleans we had to stay in the out side of the Chanel as our gun boat was a blockader the gun boat owasco come from Gelveston we got on hir the 10^th started for New Orleans got here yestardy morning I engoyed the voige very much I felt first rate all the time but did not like to se the white flag run up I would like to be on a gun boat all the while they live first rate and used us well we are encamped across the river from New Orleans this Place is cald Elgears I do not know how long we will stay here I sopose they will renew the atect before long but I do not know whether will have to go or not I reseived a letter from uncle John & Isabella yestardy & one from Ely Smith I received one from S. M. Barker to day

 

we are drawing four months pay to day I think I will send home to S. M. Barker the first opornity $50. the payed me $68.00 I sent home $50. in May $25 in Auges and if I send home $50 now that will make $125 that I have / send home I will send home the Receips as fast as I here from them you cane ceep them to I return they do not amount to any thing after the money goes thrue the onley show that I have sent the money

 

Dear Mothe I would like to see you very much and all my friends but I trust in God that they day is not far distant when we shall meat agen My health is very good at presant I send my respects to Richard & James and your Self no more at presant I will write if we leve here as soon as I cane Good By from your

 

                                    Your Son W^m M Bell

 

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