Dear Mother
		To-morrow morning we
are to leave this place for Ship Is-
land. This is positively certain. It was
read on parade to-night. We will
go on board the ship Constitution.
This is the last opportunity I shall
have of writing to you for some time
for I understand the mail commu-
nication to and from Ship Island 
is very limited. But you may be as-
sured that I will improve every opportu-
nity of writing to you.
    There was a large steamer come in
to-night, supposed to be the Constitution.
The rebel batteries at [Gruney?] Island
fired four shots at her, one of them
was a shell. However, they were 
not successful.
    I was informed by a person in this
Regiment that the 10th Regiment

had left for Kentucky. I supposed William
would write to me when the left
but I have received no letter from
him for over a month.
  It will be best to direct your letters 
to Fortress Monroe, Virginia.
		Your affectionate son
			H. Bostock

Mrs. Maria Bostock
	Col [illegible in original] arrived here this even-
ing. As you probably he has been
on a visit to Michigan. He is a
bully man, and is Colonel of a
bully reg.
Weve all seceded from Michigan
Bully for us, bully for us.
		Your bully son.

Mrs. Maria Bostock
			Marshall
			Calhoun County
				Michigan
				U.S. A.