Elbridge Gerry Manning, Jr., class of 1861

leave there shortly. Have you rec'd a letter from me enclosing a draft on New York. if you have you can cash it at any good bank. If there is a national bank near you you had better cash it there as they would be allowed to discount one of those checks. If you dont get my check, you must notify me and I will forward a "Second of Exchange" so you can still draw the money. If you lose the check Government has still got to pay the money to me. I have received a very kind letter fro Mr Davis and shall answer it at once.

Two men came in a few hours ago wounded while on Picquet and we may have some work to do today. I always expect a little trouble on Sunday. There has been very heavy firing about twenty miles from here all the morning. It is

the 19th Army Corps at Morgangia I suppose they are having another fight with Dick Taylor. They have got to whip him or surrender so they will fight well I expect. I suppose Mr Stone will pay his 300 dollars and stay at home, and that is what he had ought to do. He would lose 50 times that if he gave up his business and went to war. I would like to have been at that "Parlor Concert" at Mr Kitteredges. I don't doubt but what you had a very nice time. Tell Albert to take good care of himself and get over his sore face as soon as possible. I think he has got a bully place with Dodge & Beard. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends. Love to all the family, from You Aff Son Ellie

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Head Quarters 2 Brig 1st Div. Cd A. Port Hudson La. June 2d 1864

Dear Father & Mother,

Your letter of the 14th of May came to hand day before yesterday and I hasten to answer it. I was in New Orleans when it came but I have got safely back here again now. The Army has got down from Red River at last and I am glad of it, for I feared they would lose many a good man before they got away from there. We expect most of the Rebel Army has gone on to Richmond and that only a few are kept back here to hold us in check and I expect every day now that we shall make some effort to find out how many men are in front of us. I don't think myself that there are over 8000 in Louisiana now, but it is impossible to say for certain. If Frank has got to go to war, he had better pay 300 dollars and stay at home. money ain't any object at all compared with a foolish waste of life. And I don't think our Country needs more than one from our family. I received a letter from Mr. Geo L. Davis the same day I got yours in which he informed me that

he and Mrs Davis have forgotten all about that matter and that he should be happy to hear from me often. I think that I shall write him instead of his son. The weather here is quite good and I am enjoying a pleasant rain today that promises to leave the air delicious, a good rain is very nice when the Thermometer stand at 100 in the shade Blackberries are very plenty here and consequently the cheapest article of food. While I was in New Orleans I took two of my friends to eat some strawberries with me. when we had eaten about half a dozen each I called for the bill and found that 18 strawberries cost $2.25 perhaps I didn't look queer for a few moments. I paid the bill and haven't eaten any more since. I don't think I like strawberries very well at that price. I think my health is very good for this time of the year and I am able to do all my duty in spite of the heat. I don't feel the heat half as much this year as I did last year and if I stop here much longer I shan't dare to come home, for fear that I shall freeze if I do. I guess that sometime about next spring you can look for me, then we will have