Sept 17^th

            This morning early our detachment of mounted infantry (24 in number) rec'd orders to mount and report to Maj Montgumery. Maj Montgumery commands the 2^d Ill. Cavilry which is camped at the cotton plantation, the place from which we moved last. After our detachment reported, the Maj ordered us to take the advance of his Cavilry and move down the road towards the rebel camp on Aichlafya River. When we had advanced about one mile outside of our pickets we were brought to a halt by a volley of musketry from rebel pickets. We then dismounted left our mules in care of four of our men and deployed as infantry / skirmishers. Then came some pretty warm work for us in the shape of skirmishing. At every turn in the road, and behind every bank and levee the rebels would make a stand but we would take shelter behind trees and bushwhack them so lively that they would mount and skedaddle every time after fireing three or four vollies into us. In this manner we drove about one hundred rebel cavilry a distance of five miles, right into their camp and on their main forces. Not a man of us got wounded though some of the boys had bullet holes through their hat rims and coats. The rebels over shot us and killed a couple of the cavilry horses in our rear. After we did all we started out to do, ie drove the rebel pickets in, we about faced and marched back to camp

 

Sept. 21^st

            Nothing of interest has occured since my last writing except that I rec'd another letter from you on the 18^th. It was No 12 and dated the 30^th ult. I was glad to hear from you but am sorry that there is still no chance for me to mail a letter to you. We have just rec'd orders to be ready to move in one hour, so I must quit writing.

 

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finely all day under a full head of steam and we are all supplied with a pretty good ration of corn pone. This little circumstance of rigging up and puting in good running order, in a few hours, without any boss, old dilapidated but very complicated machinery, is a matter of little consequence, but it shows that our army is made up of mechanical, industrious and intelligent men.

Early this morning one year ago we experienced one of our many bitter partings. Dear Loo, the time may come (and I would be glad to hope soon) when we can think of these scenes with pleasure, but that time has not arrived yet; I can not sit here, many hundreds of miles from you and soliloquize / on these things with any feeling but heart ache; I can not think upon parting scenes with pleasure, while yet so far from you, knowing that the chance of us meeting again hangs upon the uncertainty of battle as well as all the ordinary uncertainties of life. Although soldiering has become a kind of second nature to me, and I can enter into any of the sports or hardships of the camp with alacrity and enjoy myself as though I were just in the hight of my element, yet in my soberer thoughts I know and think where the source and center of my real happiness is, and look forward with no little anxiety to the day when Mars will quit forever this once our hapy and peaceful Republic.

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