Port Hamilton, La. April 10th, 1863

William R. Brooks to Jane Brooks his wife and children.

[Written from Fort Hamilton, NY.]

Fort Hamilton Apr 10th 63

Dear wife

I sit down this morning to write A few lines to you to let know how I get along I am not very well this morning we had A hard time night before last we started for Neworiens About sundown we run out about 60 or 80 miles it had got to 10 oclock we had all gone to bed all at once we heard a dredful noyes and the nex moment we heard the cry we are sinking we had bin strucked by A nother ship and they all though we should go to the bottom but we was not as bad as we though but it was bad enough I tell you we had bin strucked at the forward end of our ship it strucked neer the bow and it toar through between the decks to the wheal house it nocked 4 men over board and we never seen them again - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

it was A dredful time some praied some swore and some was craysey the other ship was worse of then we was she had her foremast knocked down and she was almost in A sinking condision her jib boom her bow spit and her cut water was gone we tuned round and run back to N Y Again and toed the other ship in to N y we are back heer to fort hamilton again we shell have to stay heer untill we shave to go I cannot get eny examination heer they say that we shell go to morrow but I donot beleave it for it is A big job to fix the ship thare is A hole in her about 5 feet wide an 40 feet long but I shell go with good curage for they all say that I will get my discarge as soon as I get to the regtment

I found some heer that I was acquanted with Erastus Dixon is heer he has - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - been in service A good while and he says that they will not have me A tall so you must keep up curage and I will try to I feel that I am in the hands of A juest God and he will take care of me if I put my trust in him I shell aske help of him that is Able to save when you read this you must pray for me for I kneede your prairs when I am on the deep but I know that I have your love to go with me and it shell gard me againce all danger and bring me back to you Again

I got your letter yesterday after I got back heer and was so glad to heer from you that I did not know what to do and to heer that Marion was better I hope he will get well soon so that he can help you some you must write soon and if I am gone from heer it will come where I am - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I have left an order for them to send my letters to Neworliens and they will come in About 10 days heer we shell stope onc on the way and I will write again

I cannot think of any more to wite this time so I must say good bye you must all write Marion Mary an Eley an Willie

from Wm R Brooks to Dear wife an Children Children Children - - -