Henry, Josiah E., 1840-? to Sister

Writes that they are within shooting distance of the rebels' fort and have been for over a week. Thinks that there will be some fighting here since the fort is harder to get at than Fort Donelson. The surrounding area is all woods, and the woods are all swamps; they are in the mud and water, which is very deep. Writes that they "carried the great fort at Young Mills at the point of the bayonet, although we did not see more than a bakers dozen of rebels. Has been on picket duty extremely close to the rebels' fort. While on post, he looked down and saw a crowd of rebel men. The rebels would cheer every time they fired, and the Cavalry men would do the same and tell them to aim better. The rebels have got a pond of water so that if the Cavalry men try to carry the fort, the rebels will let the water out and flood the men. Henry jokes that this is a great plan because the Cavalry men do not know how to swim. Writes to his cousin on the last half of the fourth page. Cannot get stamps himself so Henry asks his cousin to send him six stamps immediately, unless he hears that Henry has died.