The following letter was written by Edward G. Mabry (1839-1864), the son of Joel Mabry (1787-1840) and Sarah McKinzie (1802-1886) of Posey township, Washington county, Indiana. He wrote the letter to his brother, Joel Mabry. He mentions someone named “Wood” in his letter whom I believe was his older brother, William Woodford Mabry (1829-1892). He had another brother named James S. Mabry (1832-1863) who died in the service from pneumonia in 1863.

Edward wrote this letter while serving in Co. H, 66th Indiana Infantry. It was datelined from Corinth, Mississippi, in mid-May 1863. Edward did not survive the war, however. He died on 21 August 1864 at Rome, Georgia.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Corinth, Mississippi
May 13, 1863

Dear Brother,

I take the pleasure to send you a few lines to let you know that I received your letter a few days ago. It found me in good health and I hope when these few lines comes to hand, they may find you all in good health.

We are well at this time. I got a letter from Wood. He was well. He is at Helena, Arkansas. He wrote that he was to try and get a furlough and come to see us. I would be glad to see him.

Well, I will tell you about [our] tramp we have taken down in Alabama which was about ninety miles from Corinth. We was gone eighteen days you know. We saw some good old times. We saw some Rebels but they would not stand fire. The cavalry and them had some fighting but we did not get at them. We found them at Little Bear Creek. We run them to Town Creek. We formed a line of battle three times. When we got to Town Creek we got there late in the evening. We shelled them some and commenced in the morning at half past five o’clock the next morning and continued till 3 in the evening and by that time we had a pontoon bridge across the creek [and] we went over. They left the 10th Kansas Jayhawkers. When we came back, they burnt all the houses eight miles wide and captured all the negro and all the mules and all the horses. They destroyed all the cotton that they could not fetch with them. We swept everything clean. That is the way to do it.

You wrote that you was not going to set yourself up for a target for them to shoot at. Well I am up for them and I think it is every man’s duty that is able. I think the backbone is broke now. I don’t think they can hold out much longer. I think that I will be at home against the 1st of November.

We was all paid off up to the 1st of March which was four months—52 dollars. I sent home forty dollars. I got a letter from Charles last month. They are all well. He wrote he had got him a duck. Well, I must bring to a close. I still remain yours so write soon, — Edward G. Mabry

To J. Mabry