War Steamer Diana,

March 23^d/63.

 

Dear Parents and Brothers,

                        Once more with pleasure I seat myself to write a few lines to you. I received yours of March 5^th I am glad to hear that you are all well and getting better. Well, I am getting better too, but it was myself and the Mumps for it for a while. I had a pretty tough time of it for a week or so, but if nothing happens , I will soon be able to pound the old Bass again. Well, I begin to realize now that I am a Soldier. before this I seen nothing, done nothing, and come very near spiling just for the want of something to do. Now then, I am just where I want to be, right in plain sight of Vicksburg, although between 4 & 5 miles distant from it, but with a spy glass we can see all the Rebs are doing. we arrived here yesterday about noon, and with our spy glasses we could see the Rebs just swarming on top of some large building in the City, Court house I expect it is, and by all appearances of things we are not very welcome here, for last night they tried to shell us a little, but I guess they found their guns were a little too short at one end, and not quite long enough at the other. however, several of the shells come close enough to make the old boat tremble. / There is one Gunboat and two Rams lying right here alongside of us. I expect we will see some fun, if fun you may call it, in a few days. I scarcely think we will be engaged in the battle ourselves, but even if we stay where we now are we can see the whole thing.

 

While we were coming down the River I saw some beautiful sceneries. the City of Memphis must have been a beautiful place, but looks rather desolate now, as do all the towns and plantations along the River.

 

Since writing the above, I have heard some heavy cannonading. by the direction of the sound it must have been several miles below Vicksburg, as the River makes a short bend here, and the cannonading seemed to be right across from us. it lasted about 10 minutes. I hope the Rebs have got the worst of the bargain.

 

March 24^th/63.

Well I will try to finish my letter now. Nothing extra has happened since yesterday. I feel some better to-day than I did yesterday, at least all the boys say I look better, and I feel inclined to believe them. I hope none of you will trouble yourselves about me. if there is anything at all that would make me leave the army, it would be because I thought you troubled yourselves about me. certainly I would like to see you all, / And live in hopes that at at some future day (may God grant that it may not be far distant) we shall all meet each other once more around the pleasant family circle.

 

I am in hopes this War will soon come to a close. if it does not, our once happy and prosperous Country will be we may almost say ruined. the Seceded States have already received a blow which they will feel for many years to come.

 

When you write again, tell me all the news. you can hear more news at home in one day than I can here in a week. here we hear of but very little excepting what we do ourselves. at Home you know all that we are doing, and what everybody else is doing. I never received either of them last papers which you said you sent to me.

 

just before I left St Louis I sent you a letter containing two likenesses.

 

Four of my Co deserted a few days before we left St Louis. I wonder whether they knew what they enlisted for. I believe I enlisted to fight for my Country, but I do not believe everybody else did. the name of Deserter does not sound very well to my ears.

 

The weather, for several days has been very rainy, and today it is real cool, so much so, that a fire feels quite comfortable. I expect I will see plenty of warm weather yet. /

I believe I did not tell you anything about what kind of a place I have to sleep in. the Band has staterooms to sleep in, 3 in a room. I have the upper bunk to myself. the bed are as nice as any one could wish for. I think it is some different from lying on the cold ground, and sometimes in the mud. one thing is certain, if I cannot stand the place I am in now, I can stand it nowhere in the Army.

 

But I must close for the presant. tell Cyrus and John to write. tell Cyrus to persevere in writing. I could read his writing right along. tell John I will send him a copy of them figures as soon as I get right well again. my hand feels to weak and nervous at presant to do any good writing. Edward aint to bother them girls so much, but write a little oftener. if any one wants to know why I dont write to them, just tell them I was sick, but they'll soon hear from me now. I hope this will find you all enjoying good health, or if not that, getting better at least. give my respects to all my friends, that is, all true Union men. if you have any Copperheads there, just tell them that the Soldiers are coming Home some day, that's all. now then as our maill will be a long while in going and coming I want you to write as big a letter as I have.

 

                                    I remain your affectionate Son,

Address,                                              Wm O Albright.

 

            Co A, 1^st Inft Reg^t, Miss Marine Brig.

            Care Capt. Newell, War Steamer Autocrat, via Cairo.

 

[upside down]

 

Write soon.

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