Alexandria, La May 1, 1864
Dear Friends:
Today we are camped at Alexandria and tis somewhat quiet to what it has been for Several days past we left Grand Ecore on the 22nd of Apr at 3 oclock in the morning. marched untill 2 oclock the next morning before we stoped. we were then within 3 miles of where we crossed Cane River the first time going out. about 5 thousand Rebs had got in a head of us and got a position on the opposite Side of the River from us and was not going to let us cross.. we found how they were fixed, and saw we could not cross very well where we crossed before so we marched about two miles above them and waded the River and came up in the rear of them. you better beleave they got out in a hurry.. a part of the 19th Corps were in advance of us so we did not get a crack at them. at the same time the Rebs atacted A. J. Smith who was in the rear of our train with his force and a part of the 19th Corps.. the Rebs thought they could give us the old Harry by getting ahead of us and then atact us in the rear but Gen A.J. was most to many for them.. he set a trap for them. he masked his artilery on each side of the road then pretended to have some wagons stuck in the mud and tore around like hen with her head cut off. and the Rebs made charge for the wagons. he let them get most up to the wagons clost to where he had his artilery planted then he opened on them and just cut them all to pecies.. they did not Charge on any more wagons after that.. We took a few Prisoners there but the most of them that we did not kill got away. we put down our pontoon bridge got our train acrossed and marched on. on the 25th the 13th Corps Camped 4 miles from Alexandria the 19 Corps & A. J. Smiths force Camped clost to town.. on the 26th Gen John A. McClemand (our Corps Commander) with the 1st Division of our Corps arrived from Texas and went into camp clost to us. on the 28th the Rebs atacted our Cavelry that were in Camp in advance of us we were called in to line and expected to have to fight them but they skirmished some with the Cavelry and halled off.. long towards night we moved our camp down close to town where our other force were in camp and went to fortifying and we now have pretty good Breastworkes in front of us. with the force we have if well managed we can whip anything they can bring against us. just above Alexandria there are Falls in the River and unless the watter is pretty high the Boats cannot get over them. there are a number of Boats above the falls now that cannot get down. we are Damming the River below the falls in order to raise the watter so to get the Boats down. as soon as we get things fixed sound I think we will go Back on to the Mississippi as Red River is very low and still falling and soon it will be so that the Boats cannot get up to Alexandria.. Doubtless you have read all about our expedition and know more about it than I can tell you.. still I suppose the papers will make it appear in a different light from what it is. I can not speak of it without speaking harshly of the way it was Commanded therefore I will not say much about it. there is one thing very certain that unless we get true loyal men at the head of our affairs we will never accomplish what so many have died for and others laboring to accomplish.. I am sorry that this expedition has turned out so poorly and hope that hereafter things will be done up in a little diferent style.