Steamer De Sota Chesapeake Bay 10 oclock am Tuesday April 23 1861 Dear Wife I take this opportunity of writing to to you and let you know how we was getting along here we are just entering Chesapeake Bay in about three hours we hope to meet the war vessells that are to convoy us up the river and expect to land about 8 oclock to night [ ? ] a little sea sickness every [ ? ] tis as gay as larks and in capital spirits