[1] North Carolina
January th 5 1863
Dear Sister
I Take my pen in
Hand to let you know that
I am well and hope that these
few lines may find you
and the rest of the famly the
Same
We had been laing under Mar
ching orders better ten A week
and at last took up march we
Marched to Suffolk Station
the last Day of december took
the cars for Norfolk Arived at
Norfolk half past ten O clock
at night laid thare til Jenuary
[page 2]
The first at four O clock in
the after noon we took the
Steamer and saled for forters
Monrow Arived at forters Monrow
the first of Jenuary at Six O clock
in the evening laid thare til
eight in the evening then took
Sale two hundred and fifty
Miles for beauford North Carol=
=ina Saled all night and in the
Morning I just Could see land
and then saled all Day with out
seing any land and I just
tel you it made the Ship more
then bounse and for all the
Sick boys you ever saw some
was Spuing and Some duing
thare bisness but it did not
fase me
but I must not get of my
story this was on the second
[page 3]
Day of Jenuary Saled on til
opposite beaufort cast anker
at half past eleven in the
evening laid thare til January
the third at four O clock in the
Morning then took sale and
Saled past fort Macen for
Morehead City Station arived
Morehead Station Januay
the third at eight O clock in
the Morning laid thare til
Aleven O clock in the four
noon took A Voyage of thirty
Six Miles on the cars for
Newbern Arived at Newbern
Januay the third in the after
Noon at four O clock then
Marched four Miles to Camp
Newbern Struck up our
tents and Slept til Morning
[page 4]
I Must tel you that North
Carolina issant A dam bit
better then virginia and
I due think the hole of the
suthern states that I have
saw issant worth fiting
for in Newbern thare is
twenty Negroes to one white
Man and in all the rest
of suthern Citys that I came
throuh thare is fifteen to
twenty of the dam black
tribe more then white
I am A good ways from home
but that dont make a dam
bit of difference as long as
I keep well I received your
last Letter December th 27 1862
Send an
answer Soon
yours truly Elias. W. Gilmer