enough to see or hear the mischief they had done & were satisfied that they had accomplished something, will they did kill a few men who were worth more probably than a Regt of such cowardly sneaks.  Such buisness will not prosper, it only harms a few & does no one any good.  The Road has since been repaired & trains are runing as usual.  To morrow our Regt baggage will go down to the Bluffs, the Regt will march at 1 - & camp about 8 miles from here, & march in on the next day - then likely we will load the goods on boats the night following or the next day - & about Sunday we will reach Memphis, I can't guess any further, but will write to you as soon as I can after we stop.  It is uncertain what the future may be but hope is ever in the ascendant with me & I certainly look to get into a better country - but we may have to fight for it.  Well don't the picture on the Rebel side look dark?  With their main army shut up within the defences of Richmond - Sherman with one of the very best if not the best armies ever on the march, moving right through the very heart of their country almost without opposition.  He is marching where he can destroy Lees communications & supplies.  He may release our prisiners at Andersonville & other places.  He will without doubt capture Charleston or Savanna - posibly both - We may be mistaken as to his movements, but if he is moving as reported we may reasonably look for great results.  In view of all these things, the Rebellion looks to me verry much as though it was about played out. 
I had intended to have written a note to Austin, but will wait now until I receive a letter from him, as I am looking for one every day.  Tell him the sale of polly is verry satisfactory to me & only wish he could sell all the property we have as well.  If Bert is something extra & is going to be one that can go to DesMoines & back as quick as any other horse, a real boanerges of a fellow & he can't sell him to good advantage, he might keep him.  I like a horse that's got the bottom, but Kit & the rest I would sell, while everything is up to such wild figures.  It will not always be so, remember '56 & the crash following - It's bound to ocur again, I would not be blinded by the present fabulous prices, but profit by taking advantage of the times, Greenbacks will be in demand in less than a year look out for breakers - Well my dear I must close.  Tell Em & Liby that I would have written to them, but that I suspect that my wife will read portions of my letters to her sisters so that they will know just how their Soger - brother is getting along, give them my love, & the same to Father & Mother & all the rest, & may Our Father keep & protect thee my own dear wife is the prayer of your husband   L A Garrett
