plague me so, I could say some very hard things, but I guess I wont. But to my story.

We received orders to embark on steamship Clinton, on the 31st of May, and bade fare-
well to the fair city of Mobile on 2d of June. We did not know at the time where we were going,
but supposed it must be Texas by the large quantity of stores stored away in the hold of the boat.

Gen. Steele and staff was with us, also three companies of the 77th Ohio Inf. We were
pretty well crowded, but take it all in all had a very pleasant trip. After getting fairly out into the
blue Sea, we amused ourselves as best we might gazing upon the broad expanse of water that
surrounded us on all sides, the numerous fish that followed in the wake of the boat as she went
plunging through the silvery waves, dashing the briny spray into our faces, or at night upon the
clear pure sky filled with myriads of little stars looking down upon us, as if to say "speed on good
boat, and bear your burden safely to its journey's end."

The weather was fine all the way, and we landed at Brazos Santiago, Texas on the 6th of
June, distance about 500 miles. Brazos is an Island cut off from the mainland by a narrow lagoon,
or as it is called here, an arm of the sea. It is 8 miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande, and
directly opposite on the main land is Point Isabel, where Gen. Taylor landed his troops during the
war with Mexico. Padre Island is also near Brazos, and extends up the coast two or three
hundred miles. The country is nothing but a waste of sand. Scarcely a shrub or a bush can be
seen, and I am told it is just the same two or three hundred miles up the Rio Grande.

We remained at Brazos until the 13th, there were several colored Reg'ts there, also quite a
fleet of boats anchored off in the bay. Brazos is said to be the best harbor on the coast; they are
building a Rail Road from there to Brownsville, about 30 miles. We remained there, as I said,
until the 13th, when the balance of our Brigade coming up, we marched to Clarksville at the
mouth of the Rio Grande, opposite the city of Bagdad, Mexico. We are very pleasantly camped
near the sea shore and river, just beyond a range of sand hills which extend all along the beach
drifted together by the force of the wind, which always blows a fresh breeze here. We procure
our fuel from the driftwood on the beach, and our water from the Rio Grande, which is very good
after it stands awhile and settles. When first taken out it looks very much like skimmed milk.
Speaking of water reminds me that I did not mention the kind we had at Brazos. There it all has
to be made or condensed from the salt water, and on account of the great influx of troops it very
often fell short, on account of which we suffered considerably.

We are now very comfortably situated. Camped near the beach we improve every
opportunity of bathing in the salt water, making it our common bath tub, which is a great comfort
as well as source of health to the regiment. General Slack commands the forces here, consisting
of six regiments of Infantry. He is a jolly old fellow.

We had a grand celebration on the 4th of July. Gen. Slack gave us a speech, also Gen.
Colt, commanding a Brigade of colored troops. In the course of their remarks they referred to the
glorious old flag which now waves triumphant on every foot of land from the Penobscot to the
Rio Grande. After the speeches salutes were fired from a battery of artillery, and every thing
passed off fine. The poor Mexicans hardly knew what to think of it; they have been half scared
out of their wits ever since we came here. They think Uncle Sam, having finished the southern
Confederacy, is about to come out and dispose of them. There is a large fleet of vessels off here,
from nearly every nation. It looks gay to see all the various flags, prominent among which is the
Stars and Stripes, the flag of Great Britain and the Tri Color. Sometimes some large Man-of-War

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