| Summary: | During the Mexican-American War, Moore organized and led the Eutaw Rangers, a group of volunteers from Greene County, Alabama. In the letter he describes the sea voyage to Port Isabel in Texas. He mentions the weather; seasickness; activities of the soldiers on board ("There has been a good deal of life among the volunteers--fiddling, singing & telling anecdotes"); ocean wildlife ("The porpoises come in great numbers around the ship...The flying fish is a great curiosity"); and a young boy who stowed away on the ship ("I inquired of him his reason for coming, but he did not seem to know"). There have been two false reports of land sightings, but he hopes the ship will arrive in Texas the next day. Moore also writes of how much he loves and misses his family: "Wherever my eye turns my wife, my children rise up before me--a sleep [sic] or awake my thoughts are on them. If ambition prompts me to aspire after fame & distinction it is for them. If my heart feels a throb of patriotism, it burns with still more ardour [sic] when I reflect that my country contains objects so dear to me as they are & ever will be. Many long miles now seperate [sic] us my love. In the Providence of God we may never be permitted to meet again. Should it be my lot to fall in battle or a victim of disease, remember, much will depend on you. But why call up such a gloomy anticipations. Away with them: I indulge in no such forebodings of evil. A few months will not have passed before I expect to be on my homeward voyage. Be then of good cheer and hope for brighter days to come."
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