Fort McAlister, Briant Co. Ga Jan. 28th 1864 [Bryan County]
My Dear wife, I Seat my Self to drop you a line to let you
know how, and where I am I am well. except a bad
Cough. I hope these lines may find you & Mollie well
also all the rest of the Family.. & friends.. We taken up the
line of March night before last at 3. oclock and then
we went to Savannah Stayed there about an hour, then left
on the Savannah & Gulf. train for the Ogeechee bridge a
distance of 12. miles. then we left the train, and taken a
Steam Boat which was in waiting for us at the Bridge, then
we went down the River 28. or 30. miles. to Genesis point
or fort. McAlister as it is called.. here we landed came out
and tumbled about here last night we are in a very
good house but I dont like the place. we never can get to Town
from here to buy any thing that we Should need. it is said
to be 12. Miles to the nearest point of the R.R. from here
So I think the chance is bad a bout getting any thing from
home but Letters, and I dont believe we will get our
Mail as regular as we have been doing.. the Country a long
the R.R. is very low & swampy intersperced with immense
frog Ponds filled with tadpoles. one of the most
Sickley Country’s I ever Saw. I would not live in this
place for all the Money I ever Saw then all down
the River from the railroad Bridge to Genesis point
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Seems to be one Grand Rice plantation and negros
all along on every little Bluff, and Sometimes in the
Marsh. I dont know how they live in in this Country in
the Summer Season. Jane you need not Send me that
Box of provision until I write a gain
The Yankees landed on Whit marsh the day before we Started
they wounded one man in our Regt. they came up with
one iron clad & 2 transports Some Say 3.. the pickets
Said that they landed about 12.. hundred Negros & whites
our Boys (one Co) retreated to the centre of the Island to
wait for reinforcements. at last accts.. we have not
heard from there Since we left they may Stay there or
not I cant tell I think they will have to fight
if they do.. I have been here 12. months and I have
never Seen a better prospect for a fight, though
I hope it will not occur. Direct your Letters
thus. W.H.Harden fort McAlister. Ways Station No 1 ½
Savannah & Gulf R.R. Care Capt. D.N. Martin
Mr. Orear will write Some in this letter and we will back
it So you or Mrs. Orear, either can get it.. if you get it
first Send it immediately to Mary.. I will close for
this time may the Lord be with us all. &c I remain your devoted
Husband until death
Wm H. Harden