Homes Plantation, Louisiana April 18 /63
Dear Friends:
Your letter No. one dated on one side of the sheet March 29 and on the other April 3 truly I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you were well. My health is pretty good at present. Since I wrote last we have left Millikin Bend. April 15 marched to Richmond (Louisiana) 12 mile the first day the second day we marched 10 miles to Homes Plantation which is about 10 miles from Carthage (Louisiana) and about 20 miles from Vicksburg and are camped in an old meadow as nice a place as one could ask for. this plantation is owned by General Homes.. a Rebel general..there is said to be some Rebels down below Carthage but we have any amount of Corps between us and there. all of the fleet that was at Millikins Bend (called Millikins Landing on the maps) have gone out toward Carthage. I dont know the object of our making this move. but it is reported that we are going to cross the River below Vicksburg. it is reported that the fleet that was at Lake Providence are now at the Bend. the 20th & 32 Ohio Regts are with them. When we left the Bend a part of our things were put on the Boats.. part of our tents cooking utensils and ????? and the Boat with our things is now going below Vicksburg all right. the night after we left they run the Blockade. It was a very dark night and seven gun boats three transports started to run the Blockake. they all went through except one transport. they shelled it and burned it up. Our troops are getting Vicksburg pretty well surrounded and I believe it has got to “fall” pretty soon and great will be the fall of it.. for I beleave that Seces will be about plaid then. the health of our Rgt is improving.. it seems that folks will be sick and die (even) if they are not in the army. it seems to me that they are about as sickley up there as they are here. you said you had heard from Frank Newcomb. I wrote to him a short time ago. I have wrote two letters to George lately but have had no answer yet. When we were at Yongs Point I got pay up to the first of November two months pay except the odd days of Christmas I enlisted the 9th of August and it was reconed from the 9th of Sept. I got $22.95 cts. I sent 15 dollars home by Flagg. the other day we were paid up to the first of March four months pay which was 52 dollars and I sent $56.00 home by Major Mc elroy the best oficer except one in the 96 Regt. the Major went home on a furlough. mosty all of the boys sent some money home.. before we left the Bend we sent our overcoats home. we put them in a barrel and expressed them to Delaware to Mr. Potter, the hardware merchant and if they go through safe you will find mine by going to Mr. Potter. the expresage is paid it cost 55 cts. there is a vest in the overcoat and some trinkets in the pockets. You go to Major Mc elroy and he will have the 50 dollars for you and to Mr. Potter and get my OverCoat. It seems the copperheads have kinder dried up. I think they had better.. the opinion here is that this war is a going to close pretty soon.. I shall have to close wishing you good Luck. I will bid you goodBy. Write soon. direct as before, from Lu Carhart.