Hd. Qrs. 7^th U.S. Col. Troops.

Indianola Texas Nov. 14. 1865.

 

            Dear Prince,

                                    Your favor of the 14^th, ult. is received, and your request complied with. The communication will be sent in the first mail—I am glad to hear that you are getting along well. I sincerely hope and trust that you will long live to see and enjoy the fruits of the glorious struggle in which you so nobly and gallantly participated, and which has secured to us and to posterity a government founded upon the eternal principles of justice and liberty.—The 7^th, as usual, are in a high state of proficiency in drill and discipline. Cos. "E" & "G" with Capt. Spaulding and Lts. Long, Carl and Graves and Asst. Surg. Grange are at Matagorda about 40 miles distant. The remaining Cos. are here. The officers present are Maj. Bailey, Capts. Teeple, Bjornmark / and Hall. Lts. Brown, Spinney, Noonan, Eler, Danforth, Hillard, Speice & Whitcomb and Asst. Surg. Deunler R.Q.M. Greene Capt. M^cCarty & Adjt. Ferguson have gone to San Antonio on a pleasure tour & Lt. Califf is home on leave. Lt. M^cCuskey is absent sick as also Capt. Smith. Capt. Rice & Sherman are on Col. Shaws Staff. I do all the guard duty at this post, mounting about 150 men each day. I am getting up a Brass Band. They have been practicing a month and can play several tunes well. They play for Guard Mount & Parade. Don't you think they do well? But the 7^th always does well. We have had high hopes of being mustered out, but the prospect now is not very flattering—

 

In all probability we shall remain till Nov. 12./66. There are no news of importance. All is quiet on the Rio Grande. Let one hear from you,

 

                                                                                    Your friend

                                                                                                O E Pratt

                                                                                                Lt. Col. Cdg. 7^th USCT

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