Charles Roberts to Maggie Roberts (14 January 1865)

              Stevenson’s Division, Reserve Train
Jany 14th 1865.)
My own dear wife,
I am now camped six miles below Columbus
on the Pickensville (Ala) road. Expect to move again to night or
in the morning and go toward Memphis, Ala., on the Tombigbee
river. We moved from our old camp last Sunday(8th inst) and
have since then been moving from point to point, then on one side
of the river and then on the other. I hope however we have got through
with crossing the river for it is very tedious work crossing a long 
train in a ferry boat and night before last I come
very near being thrown in the river. I had two of my wagons [&] teams
on the boat which was much crowded and one of the mules
got restless and got himself into the river. It was a wheel mule 
and difficult to cut loose and before we succeeded in doing so
the other teams became restive and the boat swung around down
the stream and for awhile I expected every moment to see the 
boat turn over or be pushed over myself by some of the mules
for they were crowding from one side of the boat to the other and 
almost impossible to control. We eventually got the mule free
from the harness and got the boat to the landing and I can assure
you I was very glad to put my foot on terra firma again for
it was a bitter cold night and the river was wide [&] deep and
there [several words missing] for a man to have [missing]
himself if he had got in the river.
I have made application to return to my brigade but 
in consequence of the Quartermaster who was in charge of the
Division train being ordered on other duty, I have to remain in
charge for the present."
The evening I left our old camp, the Artillery of [See’s]
Corps came up with us, on their way to Columbus - The battery "(Stanford’s) lost all their guns and [four] men killed and several