No 3"  On board steamer Continental 25 ms below Batenrouch Louisiana Oct 29th 1863  
My Dearest wife:  Again I am at the pleasant occupation of writing to you. This is a rainy, gloomy day - but my health is so verry good. & I am so elated with the prospect of soon meeting my old comrades of the 23rd that I feel in fine spirits.  We will get to N Orleans by morning.  & if not detained will come up to the 23rd in a few days - I have formed the acquaintance of three soldiers.  One from Kentucky, one from Ind.,the other from Wisconsin. we all mess together - representing four states.  Wiscons - got off at Natces. the other two are going on to the 13th Army corps.  The country, with its improvements is hardly surpassed for beauty in any portion I have ever seen.  The improvements on the plantations are magnificent beyond description Nonwithstanding the georgous magnificence & splendor of these princely palaces. the facts press themselves upon our minds that they have been changed from a howling wilderness waste to what they now appear by the unrequited toil of the poor manicled slave.  Batenrouch presents a fine appearance from the river - the statehouse - a large & showy structure although all that is combustible about is burned has certainly been a work that would have given credit to the test of any people
