Newbern July 21th [1863]

Dear Brother

I now seat my
self down to write you a few
lines to let you no that
I am well and hope that
these few lines will find
you the same I received
your letter this morning
and also one from Charles
I was glad to hear from you for
I have not heard from you
for some time you must
of had a pretty good time
at hartford the forth for I
guess that Birt is a good
hand to go to enny sutch
place for he is full of fun
and can tell some pretty
good storys we got home
[page 2]
from the march yesterday
and a pretty hot time
we had to I never sufferd
so mutch from the heat in
my life thare was a good
menny that got sun
struck we never had avery
long march but it was very
bad goin it is the porist
road that we ever marched
on we went acrost the nuse
river on the gun boat Bomb Shell
to fort Anderson and then went
to Swift Creak and back whitch
is seventeen miles from hear
the advance saw six grey backs
and caught one they fired one
volley at our men from acrost
the creak and then run we expected
to find some force there but
was disapointed they had a
very strong place a force
[page 3]
of a few men with a couple

of peaces of artilery could
repulse a force of six times
their number we got thare at
about five or six oclock saturday
after noon and staid till
sundy after noon we went thare
to open the road for the cavelry
to go through they have gon
on an expedtion up the country
I think that they have gone
towards taroborough and to
strike the railroad above
goldsborough for they took
their machine for taring up
the railroad they may go to
verginna for it is the best
and strongest cavelry force
that ever left newbern
you tell Chancey to hurry and
get well as quick as he can for
the men are growling a good
[page 4]
deal be cause the furlough
men stay over their time
it keeps the rest from goin
home the riot in new york
keeps a good many from
coming I expect please
excuse and except this from
your

Brother

A Holcomb