Near Vicksburg

June 18^th/63.

 

Dear Parents & Brothers,

            Again I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines. my health is much better than it was. I am able now to do some duty, still I am not quite sound yet, but if I keep on gaining as I have for the last two or three weeks, and take good care of myself, I think I will be all right after a while. Well a few days ago we stopped at Millikens bend and the Boys started out after about 6 or 7 hundred Rebs that were in Richmond. another Brigade went along, / sure an its meself that wanted to go along, too, but our Orderly thought I had better not, so I stood guard in some other boys place that was more able to go than I. they did not need to hunt for the Rebs very long, as the town was only about 10 miles from the River. the Battle lasted some 4 hours, the most of which was done by the Artillery, after which the Rebels gave leg bail for security. Our Boys went into the town then and sat fire to it. by what they said, it was about the size of Mottville.

 

We did not lose a man, the other Brigade lost a few. the Rebel loss was considerable, the exact number we can not ascertain, perhaps 30 or 40 or more. /

 

We are now landed in sight of Vicksburg, about 4 or 5 miles distant. a short time ago we were within 3 miles of one of our 13 inch Mortars, and about the same distance from town. day before yesterday several of us went out after some blackberries and dewberries, and we got still a little closer, close enough so that we could hear the musketry, of which there was a continual roar, and the cannonading tremendous. the report of the mortars is sufficient to jar the boat even at the distance we now are from it. after dark the scenery is beautiful, the shells flying and exploding in every direction, however none of them have come this / way yet, and I dont feel very anxious that they should. quite a large portion of the town was burnt a short time ago. I do not think the Rebs can keep the place much longer. When you write again tell me all the news, as we do not get much news down here. I would like to have J Pontious's address, and J Gehrings, as I have lost his and have not heard from him in a long time. I wrote to J Hommer & Riegle did they get them. I would like to know why Jacob dont write. I hope I have not offended him and Mary by plain speaking and urging and encouraging them to live in the right way. you can tell them that I expect a letter from them as I have wrote several since I rec^d any from them, and if there is any thing wrong, they shall say so, if I have offended them, it was done unintentionally. give my respects to all good union friends. so I will close for the presant. I will have more to write next time.

 

I remain your affectionate son, Wm O Albright.

 

[upside down margin]

 

the Boys answered that correctly.

keep that way of writing secret.

 

send me the Recipe to make good

soda water, the weather is quite

pleasant here at presant.                     I sent Edward a Book.

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