on Steamer: Spalding lying of Yorktown
Aprile 19th 1862
Dear Sister
we arrived here this
morning from Alexandria [1] by the
steamship spalding as are now
awaiting orders . we have had
a very pleasant trip of it ____
there are fifteen Hundred troops
aboard this ship in a very
crowded condition and all
are anxious to be set ashore
we have now two Hundred
and sixty thousand men
laying at this place which
is very strongly fortyfied on
all sides we can see them
very plainly from the upper
deck. a battle is expected
daily which will be one
of the heaviest ever fought
[page 2]
I was a witness to quite
a skirmish this morning
but have not heard the report
of it. the chesepeake Bay
at this point is some 12
miles wide and is a very
Beautifull sight also the
the shore around every thing
is in bloon to be so soon
laid in waste by battle
but victory is shure to crown
our efforts there is nothing
like retreat known the men
have confidence in their
officers and in themselves
and we are shure to win
I have no time to write a
lengthy letter just now but
will do so when we get
ashore and as often as
possible I will therefore
wish you all good
[page 3]
good bye for the present
while I remain as ever
yours &c
E. Henry
Direct as I last write
you and write as soon as soon
as possible
E H
I sent you ten dollars
by express