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Jacksonville, East Florida, April 4th 1864


Friend Thomas

I being at pleasure [sic] this evening I thought I would inform you that I am enjoying good
health at present and also to inform you that I have written to you some time since but up
to the present have not received any answer.

Friend Thomas- I guess I will give you an account of the state of affairs in this
Department at present.

We are encamped at the above named place just outside the town and all in good health at
present and the people that belong here pronounce the place very healthy.

The town is strongly fortified and the place is being rebuilt very fast by its former owners
that have come into our lives since we took possession.

We had quite a disastrous affair here but it will be a lesson for us and learn our Generals
not to trust to any one [but] our own men as it was all caused by the [tracker]. The guide
that led our [forces into] the strong hold of the enemy instead of leading us in the [rear] of
them.

It is without a doubt that we could have captured the whole of the enemies force here if
the management of the affair had been conducted properly but we gave them to[o] much
time of which the result is that we are about to try it over again some future day.

The rebel force is very strong about Eight miles from us and five times the force cannot
advance now as far as our forces did, when we first took possession of the place.

The country is one mass of woods for thirty miles into the interior and very swampy at
that and without the assistance of a loyal guide you can imagine how we can get along at
all.

We advanced] out about seven miles last Saturday and engaged them about two hours
driving them behind their fortifications and capturing about thirty heads of cattle and one
horse, had five men wounded for us, none killed [sic], cannot tell you the enemy loss as
the particulars have not reached us yet. This being about all I can inform you of at
present I will close by saying I will [send] you a paper that is printed here that will give
all the particulars of this Department.

Please give my regards to James and inform him that I have written to him a few days
ago.

Sergt. Ford is well and sends his regards to you and also the rest of the bohoys [?].
Hoping to hear from you soon and hoping you will remember me to all inquiring friends.
I remain










Yours [&c]
Corp. P. Murphy
Co. D 169th Rgt. N.Y. Vols. [Company D, 169th Regiment, New York Volunteers]
Foster's Brigade

Addressed to Thomas F. Kelley, Esq., Glens Falls, Steamer [?]
Note on envelope: Fortress Bryaele, Capt. P. Murphy, 169th N.Y. Reg., Report on East
Florida Depart.

Transcribed by Anna Bjornsson, University of Florida, 2008 and Nicole Milano,
University of Florida, 2009.