Morganza, Louisiana July the 25th/64 My Dearest beter half this pleasent day finds me well & harty & it is a pleasent thought to me to think that this may find you well as also our offspring to day is not so warm as on previous ocasions alltho summer is upon us oh glorious summer this is the month of heat & sunshine of clear fervid skies dusty roads & shrinking streams in which a cool gale is the most welcome of all visitors & evry drop of rain is worth its weight in gold of the cool gale we have after the sunsets almost always a refreshing visitation here, here in the the suny south the citisens think that the showers are to unfrequent but I think that we have a bountiful suply & I expect I am rite as regards soldiers I wil sho you our camp below [a map drawn of the confluence of the Red River and False River with the positions of the rebel and 87th camps marked] I was on a scout the other day out at Atchafalaya & we rode rite up to the camp & stopt & lookt at them some time rite in 200 yards of the huts & they never took the hint til we turnd off to leave & then then took on terbly sheling us & shouting at us but we laught at them & dismounted & some of the boys took the horses to the rear & we took shelter behind the levey & in some diches & thare we stade nearly all day with just the bayou between us some times we would shoot & then stop & talk one of them a felow close to me wanted to swap horses with me I told him that I would not have his I asked him if the rebels was thick over thare & he said yes I told him to hold up his head from behind the levey on the other side so I could shoot him He said no but stuck up his hat I told him he was a cowerd & then he jumpt out in full vew & severl guns went off at him I have just come in off picket this morning & you must excuse me if I do not rite much for I stade 2 days & nights on picket & I feal drowsey the last letter I received from you was in Marthas & now I must close thare is some talk of us being atacked here but I think it is doubtful my self If they do I think that they will get whipt for we are fortafide besids we are tolerble strong & now I close saying remember me McAllister A Hooker to Elizabeth Jane Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723