Helena Arkansas Apl the 14 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth I trust the beautiful morning will pass off and leave you as well as circumstances will admit of this morning I am well and harty hoping this may find you well also the children the wether is warm & cloudy we are signing the pay roles this morning and we espect to be paid off in a day or two I have not drawed any horse yet and I am expecting to not draw any more I received yours of 7 inst on the night of the 12" Prudy Maybery got to camp there was a salute fierd when she cam but not for the reception of her but the news of the capture of Lee and his Army came on the same boat it got here at midnight I was up pumping and when I saw the boat coming with her red white and blue lits shining I thought there was some news of importance the boat had not landed 25 minuts till Fort Curtis belloed out braking the silence of the night the 1st shot was a solid shot she throde it over the river making it whistle causing us to think of old times (Marksville) yesterday eavning a rush was made for the Cols Head. Qrs & some 3 hundred colected taking seats on the fence and some took seats with them the Col lookt out & seaing us all he came to the Door & asked us what was wanting severl (voices) as speach a speach The Col said if was the largest detale that came to his house in a long time two boys brot a big goods box & put it down and two more got the old flag & brot it out & stood it up in front of the box the flag looked torn & shaterd but not a man there but what loved its old apperance & when we thought back to the day at Shawneetown when a young lady presented it to us nearly 3 years ago we felt good to think that it never had been dishonored or forsaken the Col stept up on the box an sufice it to say he made us a good but short litle speach in which he said it was his opinion that we would in two months go home to see our old frends once more but we are well satisfide that this was is over virtuly and now for once we are expecting to get home befour our time is out as the work that we came out to do is about accomplisht and when don we are don (Mac all the Forts around Mobeal is capturd and our men had fierd 3 hours on the city and received no answer the last news the next boat up we are looking for the fall of the city which is the last strong hold east of the Mississippi we are looking evry day for stiring news from the Army at Srevesport Alexandria & Grandecore for this is the crisis with them they must eather fight 60 thousand cavelry which uncle sam will send on them in a short time or surender the 1st chance. I think they will do the later the boys are all talking of going home but you know we have been runing a Big Machine and it will take some time to stop it too. There is thousands beside us that are in the same fix of our selves you know and the shouts of joy from many sisters wives and mothers will be undiserible I am writing quite often now but you can account for that by the news of the day So Martha is mared shure anough well if she can stand it I am sirtain I can I will express my money the 1st chance after drawn pay all the depts 1st give my respect to cousin Len tel him much obliged to him for taking me to Mt Vernon I am your true Husband or leave of a one McAllister A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723