Alexandria Va. April 26 3^oclock AM 1865

 

Dear Parents Your letter is just at hand bearing date 16^th and sorry am I to have to go right against you'r orders and wishes but as it is a little to late I cannot come at present for we are about to leave. we allready have part of our things on board of a large steam ship call Doris. if I could get my pay I would come home on your account but nothing else could tempt me as I am doing so much better than I could at home. Mother I must say it realy grieves me and keeps me feeling uncheerful to know you ar so worisome and uneasy about me the whole of the time now is it possible that I have got to say more when I know of nothing more to say in regard or that would be of any youse to say but for your own sake as well as mine let the world go as it will let your heart be at rest  and when I get sick of traveling and the sight of military affairs and sick of evory thing that I am now standing my hand with I will put for home and when I get to my destany I will come home if I can get payed off if not I cant come at present for I hante the soap to do it with 

 

I couldent finish before we had to finish loading and started out We are now shoveing out into the stream it's 13 to 11 A.M. we think we shall go to Fortress Monroe from there we dont know where. But I think to Richmond at least hope so altho I know you will not content your self long as I am there but I want you to understand if the is much danger I aint there but I will see what the sight is when we reach our Deastiny and whear it is & what the sight is. But oh how I wish you and Father Dode & Dock wer with me to take this verry pleasent Rid down the Potomack River Oh the scene is so pleasent while I sit on the stearn end of the boat on Hericane Deck evory thing looks pleasent while I sit writing to you & viewing the green grassy banks of the M.D. & V.a. side and by looking back 15 miles see our great National Capitol with her big Doom standing at large white as snow and the Godess of Liberty glittering bright. then I look a little down I see on the opasit side I see the city of Alexandria which shows off splendid and is a great harbor for vessels and transports and leaving that I cast my eye on down a little farther and here I find the most magnificent fort So called Fort Washington and verry heavily mounted with guns and the Sentinel steadily paceing his hourley beat But I am not there to take the 2^ond Relief Oh when will the Sentinell the Soldier and all Military authoritys be relieved I hope soon. God speed the glorious work to an end. its hard to write when boat is running Ill wait a spell 

 

Precisley 12 minuets to 9 P.M.

I am now 8½ miles farther South than when I stoped writing this A.M. I am now floating at anchor on the Chespeake Bay near Point Lookout. We intended to run all night but we are hiled by the R^ev Cutter near the Blockade and got to lay over till morning and be examined we dont know what for nor the reasons will in the morning. the watter is salt & the mate sais it is 8 fathoms do you dream of my voyage. the sea is midling calm but the is lots of the boys heaving up their government rations. I'm feeling bulley and hope evry thing will run according.

 

Ill camp down with my bead fellow his name is M^cClure he is a bulley boy weareing about my Stamp. Good night Dear Parents. now for a bulley nights rest. E.E.B.

 

April 27^th 13 minuets past 9 A.M. /65

we wer layed over for the purpose of being examined for Booth the Assassin of President Lincoln but not found we all stood examination he's not found on board Evory boat is examined that passes the Blockade. We will reach Fortress Monroe at 6 P.M. if we have good luck. the boat bounds so I find it almost impossible to make good work of the thing I'll stop a while 

 

We passed Fortress Monroe a little past six and are now laying about 8 or 6 miles above the mouth of James River Va we cant run on the river to night so we are anchored for the night. We are bound for City Poynt. I am agoing right by Edd I shall try and sleep with him in 2 or 3 nights if I cant go and see him I I shall write to him to come & see me. I am going to lay down & rest a little through the night so to stand the journey to morrow. I have enjoyed the ride today and am feelling all Honkey Dorey to night Wish you felt half as well. I'll see some of my old camping grounds to morrow. Good night to all from Your Son E

 

April 28^th we raised anchor & left about 5 A.M. are now in sight of our destiny City Poynt. I passed where Monroe is but couldent see him. I will try and go down in a day or to if we stop long enoughf I am 8 or 10 miles above him now. Ill stop till we land C.P.

 

City Point Va. April 29^th 1865 we'r here and find evory thing bulley we are in bulley qtrs most magnificent and are living bulley I'll see E. if posable I dont know what we have got to work at So will close at present from your Son Eaph To parents John & Lucinda Dock & Deloria Brown

 

[margins]

 

Your letter is at hand before I got here bearing date 23. I was so glad to hear you say I could stay for I cant verry well leave now. I'm all right be contented if possible for I am right at home most any where in Va. I want to see the rest of it Richmond Especily

 

[?] the boys I had to wear to the funeral. Booth is Dead

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