Aboard the steamer Edward Walsh, 4 oclock, P.M.

Fri the 28^th of Nov, 1862.

 

                        My Dear Wife,

                                                On yesterday at 1 o'clock the drums beat the signal for us to file into ranks and take our final leave of convenient and comfortable barracks—to bid farewell to the "style", sunshine and ease of our soldiering and turn our faces toward whatever part of the Herculean task that may be assigned to us. But notwithstanding that all this was well understood by the men, the call was generally responded to with more than usual alacrity; and the shout of, onward to Vicksburg! or onward to Little Rock! could be heard from one end of the line to the other. But, however there were a few exceptions to this general expression and occasionally a man could be seen looking very much down in the mouth. If it were not for certain reasons I could name as many as two of this latter stamp that you are well acquainted with. We reached the boat landing about 5 o'clock and scarcely made a halt till we commenced marching on the Edward Walsh, which had previously been chartered for the special purpose of transporting the 34^th to Helena. In order to give you some idea of / the spacious dimentions of our craft, I will as near as I can give you the bulk of its lading. There are aboard 135 head of cattle and 75 head of horses and mules with hay and grain to feed them for ten days; and 40 tons of amunition in the shape of cartridges, shells and solid shot; and a large bulk of army provision the weight of which I do not know; and our Reg. But we are crowded so closely that the well man who finds room enough on any of the decks at night to stretch himself out out full length considders himself very lucky. The cabin is used for a hospital and I guess it is pretty well crowded too. The boat did not leave St Louis till near midnight and then only run down three miles till it landed. This morning it started again and run till about 1 o'clock when it got fast on a bar and is not off yet. I am afraid that Dave is not going to stand the campaign very well. he is on his feet nearly all the time in daylight, but he has not been able to do any marching or any other kind of duty for several days and he is begining to look very peaked and pale about the face. Jim is geting some better. Fletcher and Coulter are sick but the other neighborhood are well. It is snowing hard now.                  

 

     Sat the 29^th

The boat backed off the bar some time last night while I was sleeping and went to the / shore and tied up, and this morning she run up a short distance to a little town and put off a few tons of freight and all the well men got off and walked a distance of four miles around the bar while the boat went over it and landed below to take us on again. She has been runing since without any trouble.          Sun, the 30^th    Last night after the boat had tied up for the night, the boys were itching for a little sport, and they had not long to wait before the frolic was struck out by a darkey informing them of the whereabouts of an old secesh that had bees. Immediately about a dozen of the boys piloted by the friendly informant started for the purpose of paying a visit to the old gentleman's apiary. They reached the place in due time and in spite of the earnest protestations of the old devil they shouldered five of the heaviest hives that they could find and commenced their retreat in good order.

 

Not long ago I read the account of an Ohio Reg that was so efficient in the art of jayhawking that they could when they were on a forced march catch a sheep or a hog, dress it and divide it out without breaking ranks. The 34^th Iowa is not quite that well drilled yet but I assure that it has improved a great deal since that oats operation that you and Harvey had so much / fun over.       

      

    Mon, Dec 1^st.

                 We are at Cairo this morning and as the P.M. is waiting to take my letter to the office I have not time to finish.

 

                                                            Your very affectionate husband

                                                                                    Enos Reed.

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