Camp near Weldon N C
March 13th /64
Dear Mother I drop yow a few lines
in answer to yours of 4th Inst which
I recd while we was on our march
which I was verry glad to hear from
yow that yow was well or at least
better than you had been though sorry
to hear you had been Sick but I
hope that these few lines may reach
yow in Due season and find yow all
well I have no news to write yow
only that we have been on along and
tiresom march to the Eastern Part
of this State and v. a. we was owt
18 Days we left Camp on 24th Mon
and returned yesterday which was
12th Inst we fowght the yankeys on
1st Inst on the Cannal 9 Miles from
Deepe Creeke at miles from Norfolk
and 13 miles from South Mills
we wounded 3 or 4 yanks and cap
tured 13 and several horses we then
blockade the road and retreatd
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we then Started for Camp but was
orderd to Suffolk va on Wednes
day 9th Inst we charged upon the negro
cavalry in the Town of Suffolk
we killd abowt 30 negroes and Cap
turd several horses over coats and
other cloathing and other truck our
loss was two men killd and a few
others wounded the two men killed
was shot from an house by negroes
while our men was Engagd in
fireing the house and shoteing the
negroes therein we retreated
from Suffolk on thursday 10th
and came to camp yesterday we had
to March varry often of a night
as well as Day but Enough of this
I have not forgotton yow yet nor
never Expect to yow sad yow hed not
seen Olevia and the Children since
Christmast I think it apoor come off
that you cannot see them oftener
Sonomore your Son Affectionatly
Wm. L Bleckley , to , Mother

[added upside down at top of page]
P S St[rauder?] Jones is bene verry
Sick but is better then he has
been he was taken sick last thursday
aweek ago no more

[added upside down at top of page 1]
write soon and give me the news
Direct as before