
          Puente Nacional April 10th 47


 My Dear Friend,


 I would that I could give expression
 to one half the thoughts that have filled my
 breast during our weary march hither, I'm too
 tired tonight to sleep and as an express starts
 in the morning for Vera Cruz [crossed out: and] I sieze the
 opportunity of writing to you and home. But
 why shoud I do either? Not a letter, not a 
 message has reached me of those I love best.
 In the trenches before Vera Cruz whilst shot &
 shell were striking around us, my thoughts were
 with them. When we met in Saucen at 
 Madalline, when men fell by my side dead
 & wounded, distill thought of home I had left,
 and am I forgotten?


 Should I live to be an old an Adam I never shall
 forget our march hither, we left on the 9th at midday
 and by forched marches arrived in thirtysix hours
 The excessive heat & worst of all want of water
 caused many a poor fellow to falter & lag by the
 way. Out of 700 men who composed the Nigh [crossed out:?] 110
 were found in Rank & file when we crossed into
        