January 25th 1863 
       Milligans Bend Louisiana 
             Dear Lucinda 
  I wrote a letter to you while we was on 
the Boat at Memphis but the Boat Started 
before I could get it mailed So I will 
write a little more and put it in the 
letter; we Arrived here Day before yester 
day Evening; there was ,13, Steam Boats 
in our fleet all loaded with Soldiers 
and Supplies; we Just come off the 
Boat to day we are Opposite the mouth 
of the Yazoo River and about 7 or 8 miles 
above Vicksburg  : We can hear occasional 
firing down the River yesterday and to day 
between the Rebel forts and our Gun Boats 
but I dont think there will be mutch 
of a Battle for Some time to come if at all 
Our forces are at work on that canal that 
Gen; Butler commenced last Spring 
and if we get that accomplished we 
we can Run down the River past Vicksburg 
and be out of Range of her Guns 
 Fosters Battery is here I went to their 
camp yesterday  ; I Saw Jabe and the other 
Badax boys; Jabe and Levi Nobles had 
been unwell for Several days but [crossed out] [illegible] their  
health is improving and will probably 
be all right in a few days Fosters 
Battery has been in two Battles since 
they come South; [illegible]; at vicksburg; and 
at Arkansas Post up the Arkansas River 
they lost one man Killed at Vicksburg 
the only man they have yet lost in Battle 
though they done good Execution at Arkansa 
Post; This is a low Dismal looking here 
along the River the planters throw up 
large levys to prevent the water from 
inundating their plantations when the 
River Raises . I will send you Some flowers 
that Bloom here in January I picked them 
yesterday; I sent you Some flowers and leaves 
last Summer, and some cotton seed but you 
did not Say whether you got them or not; I must 
close good Bye      Thos.J.Davis 
         Lucinda M Davis