___________________________________ in camp near Alexandria, La March the 22/64 Dear Elizabeth after a march of one hundred & 50 miles in 6 days this morning finds us in camp near Alexandria La on red river if any thing would mak a man forget home & frends a long march on half anough to eat should we marched so fast that we did not have any chance but when ever we did stop we don as Peter was commanded to do we stade & eat tho some times we travel all day & half of the night without stoping to feed or eat when we did stop we had plenty of corn & foder & hoggs & catle Alexandria was taken befour we got here we did not have any fighting on the rode except some scurmishing the first day the rebels has gon to swreveport it raind all day yesterday & this morning is very mudy I put on some dry clothes last night & slep in a shuck pen this morning the sun is shining & I hope we have prity wether among the things that acurd on the march was imence clouds of dust [torn] farms that was planted in corn & coton & cain we taken all the horses & mules & the nigars folowed corn is about 3 inches hie but but got frost bit the other night this is a fin contry rebels is coming in & giving them selves up every day 4 came to us yesterday while I was on picket I mad them som coffee & give them plenty to eat som of them have never sean a yanky they seamd to think them very clever I will allways treat them that leaves the rebels as I would treat a man of four thought & noleg or a gentleman the rebels retreated befour us tearing up bridges & burning coton I do not no how long we wil stay here tho not long & I thing thare is an expedition on foot for swevesport 150 milds up the river you may gess my chance to write by looking at this leter if any money comes to you for Martha keep it til futher oders I have no chance to do any thing now they told us a few minuts ago to write leters & now they are teling us to fech them in not giving us but a few minuts to writ so you se my chance tho I thought you would like to no whether I was alive or not give my respects to all & save all my love for your self & now may God bless you & take care of you yours Mack to Lizie Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723