Memphis, Tenn.

June 3/63.

 

Dear Parents and Brothers,

            I once more seat myself to write a few lines to you, hoping this will find you all enjoying the blessing of good health. this finds me about the same as when I wrote to you from Cairo, perhaps a little better, but still unfit for duty. it is the General Debility I guess. We have just come back from a trip to Vicksburg. Gen Grant seems to be bound to take that place this time. We were close enough to see the town, about 5 or 6 miles. we could hear the / cannons roar. we could see them flash, and the shells whizzing through the air, it was nice to stand of and look at, but i guess the Rebs did not think it quite so nice. we had a little muss with about 1,000 of the Rebs on our way down the Miss. our Commissary Boat was fired into by two six pounders. we ran back and gave chase. our Cavalry overtook them about 8 miles from the River. they came very near being more than enough for our Cavalry, but several Companies of the Inft. coming up with the Cav. turned the tide in our favor, and the Rebs skedaddled again. after the Boys came back we thought / thought we would have a grand illumination to top out with and consequently went at it and burned the town. there were only some two dozen houses in the town. the Rebs left five dead and one wounded Lieut on the field. we lost 3 killed, 6 wounded, and two taken prisoners. we expected the Rebs to fire into us as we were coming back from Vicksburg, but they would'nt do it. we went up the Yazoo River as far as to where the Rebs had that raft built across. we were down there only a few days. I guess we will start back to Vicksburg in a few days. there will be some hard fighting to do / there yet, but I am in strong hope that Vicksburg will be taken this time. I received a letter from you while at Cairo, since that none. I feel anxious to hear from you. I would like to hear send something home, but cannot well from here, at least I will wait till I get farther North. but I must close for the presant, give my best respects to all friends, in hopes that this war may soon come to a close, that we may soon meet each other face to face again. I remain your affectionate Son            Wm O Albright.

 

[upside down margin]

 

the name of that town we

burned is Austin.

 

send me a few more

PO stamps.

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