On Board of the Mary Crane
		Ohio River Nov 13.th 1862

      Dear Mother     I suppose you
have received my letter Post marked
Evansville.  I thought at that time that
we would be at Columbus before this
time.   today at halfpast 11 will
make 4 days  .  I suppose we have
been aground about 10 hours of
the time . and we have had to lay
by for the moon to get up so we
could see to move .  the river being
so very low .  we are not moving
at present .  there is such a heavy fog
cant see twenty feet ahead of the boat.
we have all had to go ashore twice 
walking about 3 miles first time 2 miles
next time on the Ky shore both
times the last time we found lots
of Hickory nuts Walnuts Grapes

and something that I never saw –
before as I know of persimons.  Some of
the persimons were very ripe and 
some not so I have a good chance of telling
what they were I dont think much of
them .   I went up to a very nice
house while on shore yesterday it
was built upon a high rock
splendid place.  I heard a goose up
there was the way that I happened
to go there went after a goose
but they were so poor that they was
		         lady
not worth stealing the ^ was there
close by the geese she found out what
we wanted.  give me a chicken inviting
me in while her nigger servant
caught the chicken when the chick-
_en was caught I thanked her and
left for the boat on my way to the
boat I found a nice pig and was about
to shoot when the drums beat I being
of about a ¼ of amile had to run

to catch up with the regiment so I
failed to get the pig .  we are about 50
miles from Columbus yet not moving any
now except floating down a little with the
current  .
	I am well except diherrea which 
I have had for a week alittle almost
over it now have alittle cold yet
I will finish my letter on arriving
at Columbus  .
We passed Cairo at 1  it now being
3 P.m.   we received orders to go on
to Memphis Tenn  at Cairo .  it is
impossible to say how long we will
wait at Columbus  the men will
have to draw rations at Columbus
that will take a few hours at
least .  the Col thinks that that
will be the only delay we will
not be able to run nights our
pilots not being acquainted with
the river

I have seen some Country all
ready and the supposition is that
I will see a good deal more before I
get back home a gain.  I suppose we
will go right in to active service.
we have got good guns  the Enfield
rifle oil cloth blankets and so on .

		Your affectionate
	     Son Jas L Cathcart 

     Dear Mother Columbus 4 ½ 
P.m  13th 1862  we will leave
  in two hours for Memphis
Tenn    write to me there 


       I am well