(Stationery embossed with a fort in upper left corner)
Pine Woods, Alabama March 29th 1865 Dear Friends When I last wrote you I was in N. Orleans I am now in sight of Mobile. but cant quite get there.. I left N. Orleans the 13th of March and got to the Battalion that was camped on Mobile Point half a mile from Fort Morgan on the 15th of March (my birthday) on the 17th the expedition started from Mobile Point & Dauphine Island consisting of the 13th A.C. commanded by Maj Gen Granger & the 16th A.C. com’d by Maj Gen A. J. Smith.. the hole expedition com’d by Maj Gen Camby.. we met with but little opposition untill we came near to Spanish Fort 12 miles from Mobile. when about two miles from the Fort we came up to the Rebel Pickets. our Brigade (the 1st Brig. 3rd Div 13 A.C) were in advance & our Battalion was sent ahead as skirmishers. we drove the Rebel skirmishers into their works and advanced to within about half a mile of the Fort admist the fire of Rebel musketry and Artilery. the ground we advanced over was covered with pine stumps and logs so we had a chaunce to Sheild ourself considerable from Rebel fire.. the most of the Rebel missels of death flew over us and injured those in the rear more than it did those of our Battalion.. of our Battalion there were but four wounded & two of them were from our Co (Co D) they were Wm W. Townley & Wm McClure.. there was a shell that struck a stump that John Rader we laying behind & tore the stump all to pieces & like to covered him up with dirt & pieces of the stump but did not injure him any. it was on the 27th in the forenoon that we advanced on the Fort & we skirmished with them untill night when we throwed up brestworks & got our artilery in position. to day we are lying behind our brestworks. there is considerable firing by our Batteries & skirmishes.. but not so much by the Rebels.. the works we are contending with are near the extremity of Mobile Bay & are the outer defences of Mobile. our fleet is moving up the Bay as fast as they can remove the obstructions.. last evening one of our moniters got close enought to shell the fort. & last night while moving round she struck a torpedo which exploded and disabled her.
March 30th
Today the weather is very pleasent but there is considerable firing round the lines. there seems to be but very little of this country cleared most all Pine Woods. we have marched through Pine woods most of the time since we left Fort Morgan. for about half a mile round the Fort (that we are now contending with) the woods have been cut down and our breastworks are at the standing timber.. everything seems to be working in our favor we expect some land morters here in a few days from Fort Morgan.. then we will show Mr. Rebinel how Fort Morgan was taken.. tis reported that Gen Thomas has taken Selma.. if so I think the Rebels in this part of the wourld will be drove into Mobile & then we will Siege them or shell them out with morters.. the same as at Fort Morgan.. it may take sometime to do it but the boys are in good spirits and confident of sucess.
April 1 this letter has a number of dates atached to it. but I think I will get it started for Ohio today. things here are in about the same condition they were several days ago. We are geting our Siege Guns & morters planted and will be ready to open on the Rebbies in a short time.. I received a letter from Almeda yesterday maled Feb. 21st the first I have received since the Battalion left White River. I was very gald to hear you were still well. your letter went to White River and was remaled & it was a long time on the road.. if I had a good pen, good ink & was situated so I could & had time to write I would like to answer Almdies letter for I think she is coming down on me in regard to some small matters. but I guess I will have to let it go untill I have a good opportunity & I will explain to you the cause of all these misterious things.. you spoke of having sleigh rides, parties & oyster suppers etc which are very nice if they are caried on in the propper way which I hope and trust they are.. there must be a mistake in regard to my making rings in the Hospital. all the rings I had were the rings of scabs I took off my fingers & toes & I guess the secesh girls would not like more than half a dozen of them.. ð 7 3 (