Franklin La March the 8th/64 My Dear Elizabeth I take my seat in haste to tel you that this leaves me well & harty as I hope it finds you & the children we are going to start from here & perhaps by the time you read this I will be if I am alive severl mils from here towards Texas or Arkansas we have not drawed yet I am sory that I cannot send you money befour I start but I have not got any & all that I can say is that I wil send you some the first chance in the morning we start on the march to day is as hot as it well can be & the sun shines on my paper so hot that I can not hard write our destination is supose to be Alexandria or Swrevesport on Red River thare wil no doubt be some fighting I have just come off picket & you must escus my short leter for I have to fix to start I hope you will do as you best can & not uprade your unworthy servant write soon your humble companion til deth M A Hooker to Home Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723