Dear Father

     I received yours bearing the date of May 29th and was very glad to hear that you were well and enjoying your selves as best you can We are all well in camp and doing the best we can The prospect now is that the next time you hear from me I shall be some where else for we have orders to send every thing to the rear but we need what it is for I do not know but there is something afloat I cannot tell what The rebs are either are crossing the river for an invasion of the state or we are going rite through into Tenn and we have to prepare for some thing

The report in Camp is that we are going to be mounted or start for Vicksburg within a week whether it is so or not I do not know There is some thing important afloat but I hope I shall have the good fortune to come out all sound in the end
We have been haveing considerable rain for a few days It is quite warm not very uncomfortable though I wish I knew the true state of affairs all over the country but I do not Some of the boys are complaining some about their arms but mine is not well yet They have detailed 2 men out of this Regt and the 104th out of every Compy I should have said in all 40 men to go in the 4th O B. they Co Officers

picked out such men as they wanted to go some of the worst men have left the Regt If the whole Co had gone I would like to have joy joined but all it was I did not want to go
We have got to have 60 rounds in our Cartridge Boxes and 8 days rations 3 in our haversacks Well I must for I cannot compose very well my mind is disturbed from some cause or other
Good by write as often as you can and except my love

H E Randall

PS about Fanny I am glad you sold her for I was afraid of that bunch if its not was due sooner I would like it better but never mind that