Wednesday 5 PM. - We are about 1/2 way from Cairo to Memphis the whole distance is 225 ms. at this rate it will take me a long time to get to Orleans - but I am in hopes we will get on faster as they have been taking on freight & wood.  this evening is quite cool & misting rain. yester while the boat was tied up I went up to a house & called for corn bread & milk after I had eaten I found from conversation that the lady was from Highland Co O. & a daughter-in-law to "Old Dan Hare" of H. Co notoriety, before he became a Methodist preacher he was a great rowdy, & around at public gatherings was often bantering "who will or who dare swap horses with old Dan Hare".  This womans first husband was a brother to "Hare from the Forks"  Father & Mother will remember the Hare family - I believe the people along the River here are nearly all loyal & appear to rejoice at the prospect of a return of peace.  The gurilas trouble them a great deal - I did not write to you from Cairo, as it had been so short a time since I had written & I had but a few minits leisure, but if I had known that I should be so long on the way to M. I should have written a few lines.  My health is real good so much so that meat, crackers & coffee (clear) tastes good.  I am off on shore every day eating pawpaws & apples &c.  I am enjoying myself verry well only I feel so lonesome there is not one on board that I ever saw before - well I must quit & get some tea or coffee made & eat crackers & meat
