Dear Mira,

Here you see a fair specimen of Southern skill in the manufacture of writing paper.  It seems to me some our our Northern Merchants use (?) a superior article for wraping (sic) paper.  When I wrote you last April 9th I told you strong symptoms were viable for smelling gun powder stronger than at any other time since we commenced this Mobil (sic) siege.  In that one case I proved to be a prophet for a big fight came off that very night.  I was up to the Regt. that P.M. about the hour of 3 & found the boys rolling their blankets & filling their haverbags for a 44 (?) hour operation.  About 5-30 All strings were ready & the Fort was charged & carried capturing 3000 men & 33 pieces of ordinance (sic) & quite a good many stores & Rebel Hospital & etc.  Now I know you are anxious to know who was killed & wounded.  Well our Regt. only had 3 hurt, one badly wounded Sergt. Jackson. Co. B, & two slight wounds.  We were uncommonly fortunate.  I never saw a grander set of boys than they were after the fight.  So much accomplished & with so small loss.  So far as the 27 was concerned but other Regs. lost pretty heavy.  The total loss of our Division is about 130 wounded & 30 or 40 killed.  Perhaps it is less but I think it is rather large.  A large proportion of the wounded are badly wounded, quite good many amputations.  I was up till 2 o'clock the next morning bringing in the wounded & helping them about Hospital what I could.  1st Division 13 Corp lost 50 or 60 killed & wounded.  Our Brigade brought out 780 privates, 12 line officers and one colonel.  The 3rd Brigade brought out 1100 I here (sic).  The Brigade the 21st Iowa was in was not in the charge.  I saw Sam Gilbert & Fox & Manchester today.  The boys were all right side up.  Our Brig. moved their camp inside the Fort yesterday.  I was down there last night (having heard that a mail had come in) and got three long affectionate letters from my --?--.  You can bet I was glad to get them.  I am always glad to get your letters even if I should get one every day but when I don't get them very often I am doubly glad.  If [ever? or even?] Nos. 28, 28, & 30.  In two of them I found a dollar back each.  I am glad to get the mony (sic) although there is no foreseeable chance to spend any here now, but perhaps there will be soon.  I have several sheets of paper & envelopes that I can use.  I have four sheets more of Rebel paper that was give to me.