Camp Halack Miss. March ^th30, 62

 

                                                                                                            Kind friends at home

I embrace this another opportunity communicating to you once more that I am well and would be happy to know that you was all well I have had the best of health since I come out of the hospital we are now in the state of Miss only a few miles from the enemy there was a general move made yesterday we was out on picket come in yesterday we stand twenty four hours. when we first went out we deployed into line threw the right wing to the rear as a reserve we heard a hard fight betwen Infantry it was some of Popes men retrenorteering yesterday morning we heard heavey canonading on the rebel line / our men are moving onto them very fast and my opinion is before you get this the hardest battle yet to be will be fought our victory won southern confedercy gone up the shout I have felt lonly for a long time yet I am not homesick for I said at the battle of Mill springs that I was going to see it through or die in the atemp I think we will have one grand fight at corinth and then the thing is over with the western army we got the news yesterday that yorktown was taken also Neworleans I do not say yes or no to it till I see the papers I wish you would send me a paper when there is any important event occurs for we do not hear any thing that we can rely on /

 

we had orders to get ready for inspection so I had to stop writing we can hear now the roar of cannon at a distance I supose our men are driving the rebels pickets in the 40^th regt passed here yesterday I did not get to see them when I last saw them they was all lively and in good cheer I sent $20 home I sent it to S Austin we sent $65 all together $25. for T. N. Hartner $20. for S. A Shoemaker $20 for Wm. S. Duncan, esq we will draw again today or tomorrow I will on the first opportunity send it home for I think of being there to use it yet unless the greybacks dont knock me over tell father if he pays any debt for me to keep account of it / and make it good out of my money I want to know if jas beadle has paid that four dollars for my drum or not give my love to all and write soon tell father to send me 30 cts worth of postage stamps so I can write with more independance. I must close tell all to write tell Han M^cClure if he dont want to write he can leave it alone

 

                                                farewell

                                                Wm S Duncan

 

I have not a stamp to my name so I will have to frank

 

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