Justus F. Gale to Father
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I will improve a short time this afternoon in writing a few lines to let you know
that I am well and hope these lines wil find you enjoy- ing the same blessing. I
recd yours and Lymans letters of the 30th of March some time ago; and should
answered it before now- but have been on the move all of the time since I got
it. we are now near Alexandria; we have been up the red river 30 miles and come
back again; we found the rebels was a most run out - and what there is left was
some 20 ms. a head of us and only about 800 of them left so we turned our
direction another way. please except a little present for
where there is but little, little is required
The camp story is now that we shall go to port Hudson- but
that we privates are not supposed to know whare we are going.
Perhaps you would like to have me write some about the country up in
near Texas. It is some higher here than it is about New Orleans and that
vacinity; the soil is more sandy more like our loam: occasion ly we come to a
rolling hill that looks a little like our northern country. there is some
splendid fields of corn ar ound here. some of it is as tall as my head -but on
an everage is up to my hips there isent but verry little growing here this year
only corn; there is a goodeal of cotton stowed away up here - and some sugar.
the timber around here is mostly Cyprus and sweet gum tree. the Cyprus make
verry nice lumber. It is just a month to day that we started the rebs from their
earthworks 12 ms. this side of Brasear City; they havent stood us any fight
since they got away from us there.
Since the 11th of April the
troops of this department under General Banks have marched between 250 and 275
miles; so you may depend upon it we havent laid stil all of the time; we have
marched from 10 to 33 ms. a day; the boys stood marching much better than I
expected we should. When we had the fight I lay between the fire of our guns and
the rebs; the way the shot and shell flew over and around us want slow; if it
was ever I liked to lay in the ditch it was then - although when I have been
whare there was a chance to use my musket I dident calculate to flinch although
the next second might be our my last; I had several peices of shell
and some bullets come close by my ears but that is no more than I expected. It
is over a month since I have put my head under a tent, and have had no kind of a
shelter only my blank- ets except a few nights we had some
fence
rails for a shade. I havent felt better since I left home than I have on this
march; I havent had a might of cold - been well and enjoy it well; we have
plenty of fresh meet and hard bread - some sweet potatoes and beens -and some
puddings; I will send you a peace of myne and Albees plate and spoon that we eat
our pu dding and molasses of of to day noon. the plate was a peice of sweet gum
bark; we cant afford to carry much tin ware with us when we are marching. I am
sorry you had such bad luck with your new woman; I hope this war will soon be
over with - and I shall be able to return home again to take care of you in your
old age. I want you should write to me oftener - for I think much of a kind
letter from home while away in the army. I miss Dear Brother Charlies letters
verry much since he died; but I trust he is far better of than any of us can be
here below; I must close; please excuse all mistakes and answer as soon as can.
please except this with my love and best wishes. This from your unworthy son
J. F. Gale
give my love to Lymans folks: and remember me to little Herbert