Neworleans [New Orleans, LA]
Oct 13 1861

Friend Ned

Dear Sir
I seat my self down to drop you a fiew lins to let you know how I am
somthing of my travels
we landed her from houston in 15 dayes
from houston we landed at Nibblen bluff in 2 dayes there we twok it a
foot 125 miles
the 8 day at night I was taken very sick vomiting and ruing of of th
bowles
the next day they wanted me to ride in the sick wagon but I desested
and walked on 2 dayes jorney and thought I was getting well
the second day in teh eaveing I taken a very hard chill and high
fevor
it is useless for me to try to tell you how mutch I have sufered
for 3 dayes
I had what the doctor called the pluriser but to day thank god I am
able to get a bout and am clear of all deseas but I have the sworest
mouth and nowes of any pore felow you ever saw
our route that we traveled a foot was just as bad as you can amagein
it was alow flat marshey conterye
it raned 4 or 5 dayes on us while in there
we had 8 wagons fore 3 copmeney
6 wagons to hall the bagedg
2 to hall the sick
the boyes that left our neighboorhood are all well except Bob McCann
the wagon caught his leg between the wheel and body and broused it
very bad but not serious
I hope we expect to leave Neworleansthis eaving
our destination Lousivill Kanetucky [Louisville, KY]
all the eyes of excitement is turned there
some or some of th boyes are glad some are not pleased but it all
amounts to the same we belong to the southern confedracy now
there was a little fight tuck place on the 12 inst between the
great boat that you have heard so mutch a bout that was bilt hearin
Neworleans
it is known hear as the turtle
she run afowl of the blockadeing squadiron last saturday for hear first
attempted
the first pass she made was to run right strate in to one of the vessals
about 20 feet and sank hear and all abored except those that ware
accidentally picked up
she then tuck a small prise and some thing got the matter with
hear runing gears and had to return to Neworln
I recon she is th master vesel in th world
I saw hear myself at a distant and all the descripthat I can give you
of hear is that she is just in the shape of a tirtle back
I could sea some bruises that they made on hear in the fight
she was tryed with with the best guns that old lincon had
Well Ned I have given you all th news that I have
I would be glad to see you and Miss Graham and all the children
I want you to show this letter to Houston and tell him that I will
write to him the first opporuny
give him my love and respects
Ned remember the promes that you miad me
the next letter that I write to you I will be able to let you know
wheare to write to me
give my love to all inquireing friends and receirve a double potion
to your self
yours untill death