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[inverted writing begin] Friday 5 A. M. Cloudy and sultry, nothing to read nothing to do is enough to give any person the blues. Saturday Morn it has been raining all night, no lights are moveing yet the news is that they have commenced fighting below [end inverted writing] the mouth of the Yazoo river. As near as I can find out our entire fleet consists of forty regiments, one hundred boats. The thirteen regulars are here, I saw Mose Pierce last night, he says he has not heard from home for three months. Noon there has a brigade gone from our division out into Louisana to destroy some rail road communication, we shall wait for their return. H. Whipple has returned to the boat he was sentenced to be shot by the Gen. who made him write a letter home to that effect. Col Parson Master of Transportation being acquainted with W Father got him released, he owns that he tried to set the building on fire. Had I known it could have sent this letter to day, it is now to late. Friday morn, The brigad that went out yesterday has returned, I have not heard of the result of the expedition. Yesterday at 2 A. M. our brigade was called out in line of battle but returned again at dark, we were drawn up in line on the levee built built by planters to prevent their land from innundation it is thrown up about eight feet high and makes splendid fortifications. There were captured yesterday nearly two hundred beef cattle, there were fourteen killed, the rest escaped in the night by carelessness, there has two companies of Cavery gone in persuit of them every thing that is found on the plantations is confiscated, and generaly the buildings destroyed. Gen. Smith of Ky. is in command over us under Gen. Sherman, he uses his authority (see margin) [begin vertical writing:] most to much for his own good, in guarding secess property. I believe him to be as big a rebel as any in the Confederate Army. [vertical writing end]