Newbern N C July 30th [1863]

Dear wife
we have Just Returned from an Expidition
haveing Been gone ten days i have got your
Letter of the 19th i was glad to hear from
you the fulough Boys are all Back well
if you wantted that Shirt i am glad you
[???] it But dont think of Sending out
anny at anny Rate till i get Paid of[f]
wich i hope will Be next week i thank
Mrs Putman for the Paper and give her
my Love well i must tell you about the
Expidition we Left Newbern the 22 and
went on Board of the Steamboats the
Force was the 23 9th 17th 25th mass
and 81 New york and Belgers Baittery
all kinds of Rumer where afloat as to
where we are a going gen Foster
arrived here from Fortress Monroe and is
a going with us and So we Came to the
Conclusion that he is the only one that
knows about where we are agoing
well we Proceded on our voyge down
the River towards Hatters inlet But
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though they would make the Rebs
take up Before they get Back well
we drove the Rebels out of the
Breast works and took a Lot of
them Prisoner the Rest getting out
of the way the Best they Could
with a Charge of grape and Canister
after them from Belgers Battery we
only had four men wounded
out of three Regts well the Cavelry
have gone on the Raid and we Shall
hold the Bridge till they get
Back they will Be gone two days
By the way i have had the
Shakes and Chils Since we Came
here But have got Right now
it is an awfull feelling as Long
as it Lasts the 27 has done a
good thing on Cotton we have
Captured enough to Pay for all
the Coal the Steamers have Burnt
Since Leaving and two thousand
dollars worth Besides the gen
is highly Pleased with us i
wish we had fifty Such gen as