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Balls Ferry Black River Miss. May 13th, Dear Sister, Since the fight at Magnolia hills, near Port Gibson which I described in my last the Army has been steadly advancing, by easy marches, so as to [illegible], rather than wear out the men, to the rear of Vicksburg. Our whole Division is on picket stretched along the bank of the river for several miles, to keep the enemy form crossing. Last evening some of the boys from the Reg. had a talk with the rebs across the river, and one of them swam across and exchanged Coffee for a Newspaper, they seem as confident of success as we do. They claim a Masterly retreat at the last fight, with but a slight loss, with the exceptions of their Gen. Their men are ignorant of all our victories, [begin vertical writing] This is all the paper I have or all I can get for we left our Knapsacks on the other side of the river, they are now piled up in Grand Gulph. You can imagine how dirty we are marching though the dust without any change of clothing. With lots of love I remain your Att. Brother Carlie [vertical writing end]