Accession Number: XX3953c
Jacksonport Ark May 23th 1864
My Dear Lizza!
Last night I reseived your welcome letter. I was surprised to get an answer so soon and at this place. we left Batesville some time ago because we could not get any more forage for our horses and our ration's was very near played out. but now we are thirty miles south on the White river one of the main points of Arkansas State. the reason we cant get fourlough now is Gen. Banks Retreat in Louisiana I should not be a bit surprised if we had to go down there yet for he got whopped most owful bad. Steel had to retread back to Little Rock again we are only one hundret miles from there. we had two nice little fights since I wrote to you the last time. in the first one we had a prety tough time, we lost only two men for whom we took revange, we killed ten of them on the same place. I had a hand in meself--- The are trying to atake us often but allways on the wrong end. I shall not promisse you any more to come up for I told you to many times but if I do come, look out, I shall stay with you a good while.-- it is geting most owfull hot here, O Lord how will it be in July if we have to stay here, Im very near melting now allready. this is a unhealthy Contry, we have a good many cases of fever & Egua here lots of Mosquitos Snakes, Turtles and all other most desagreeable Insects. but the same time Im well and harty a little Sunburned and not very well claded. inclused you find a Photograph wich I had taken last week, it is badly Done, it's impossible to have any thing done well in the field. if you see the Origsnal you can judge for you self. the latest News we had, was from the 10 of May. the same time we your letter came, we hert of Gen. Grants fight but that is about all. we are positively excluded from the whole civelized world.
Oh! how I would like to see your brother Charley he must look good now. I would give the world if I could be up there the same time with hem. but I say meself the war can't lass much longer then one year allthough I Dont have to serve so long any more by God if I get out I shall stay out this time and become a honest peasable Citizen again. now I have to conclude for it is time for me to go on Duty. give my respect to all and I remain
your allways sincere
Henry Vogt