Read River Alexandria La. Mar. 27^th 1864

 

Dear Mother

                        I take this opurnity to let you know that we left Franklin La. the 15^th of this month we got here the 25^th we marched 10 days. we rested a week ago to day at a place they call little Washington we marched 160 miles we marched from 14 to 18 miles a day I felt very sore and tiert some days but I came thrue all rite this place was taken the day before we left Franklin they Rebs had a Fort down the River about 70 miles from here but our forceses charged on it and took it I beleave Gen^l Smith was in command of the forceses that ware here he took 200 prisners they Schoold the Rebs a yenkee trick a day or two before we came here there was over three hundred Rebs encamped about four miles from here our troop found out there Countersine and went rown and releaved there Pickets in the night and took them and four Peces of Artillery without losing a man as near as I cane find out there was ten thousand troop here when we came but they left here yestardy I sopose for Sreavs Port thay say that the Rebs are strongley fortified up there I sopose we will go up there in / few days Report says that it is taken there is about 30 gun boats here if we have to march up to Sreavs Port it will take some time as it is over 200 miles. We marched thrue a very nice Countary and not a single stone to be seen Shuger & Cotton & Corn is there main crops thrue where we have ben marching. Dear Mother I wist I could send you a Hoghead of Shuger but I cane not the boys carry it in camp by bushels. My health is as good as usel we are getting two months pay to day I got $33.45 I will send some money to S. M. Barker but I cane not tell how much I will send at presant as some of the Boys oas me some I cane not think of any thing more at presant I will write to you agen when I have a chance to my kind love to you and Richard hoping that this will find you boath engoying good Health I Remain as ever your Son.

 

                                                                                                                        W^m M Bell

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