3 pages, 7 1/2 x 12, in ink, written by William A. Prickett, to Elias D. Smith. Comes with the original cover with Pensacola, Fla., Jun. 5, 1864, postmark, with 3 cents George Washington postage stamp. Addressed in ink to Elias D. Smith, Q.M. Sergt., 14th Regt. N.J.V., Washington, D.C., with docket, Received June 23, 1864, City Point, Va.

Camp of the 25th Regt. U.S. I.[infantry] C.[olored], Near Barrancas, Florida, June 5th, 1864

Friend Elias D,

I received your letter dated April 24th yesterday. It has taken a long time to reach me, but it has been forwarded twice. I wrote to our mutual friend the Chaplain about a week ago enclosing ten dollars for you. I would have paid you before but we were not paid until May 8th and I understand from the Chaplain that you would not need it immediately, that is before May if your regiment was paid in March. I am very much obliged to you indeed. It accomodated me very much at the time. If I can at any time reciprocate the favor it will give me great pleasure to do so. I find that you have been laboring under a misapprehension. I have not been promoted. I cannot understand what made you think so. I am the seventh Captain in the regiment and my promotion, if promotion be obtain by senority, is far away in the future. Our regiment is very pleasantly located here. Compared with my experience in the Army of the Potomac, it is "candy soldiering," very much like our campaigning at Monocacy Bridge. You were in error when you supposed that I had been informed in regard to affairs in your regiment. I have not received from it any letter but yours since leaving Philadelphia. The Chaplain now owes me two letters. Sergt. Foster of Co. G owes me one and so do the boys with whom I used to tent. We have been very much excited and very jubilant over the news from the seat of war in Virginia. I have eagerly examined the list of casualties to see if my old regiment had been engaged, and to see if there was anybody I knew killed or wounded. The 14th was not mentioned and I concluded that you had not been engaged. What are the feelings of the soldiers in regard to Gen. Grant? Have they perfect confidence in him. I regard the Rebellion as most certainly doomed and I do not think the end is far distant. I should very much like to know how the Rebel leaders feel about the matter and whether they really think that they are going to secure their independence. When I think of the precious blood that has been spilled in the struggle, of the many happy homes that have been made desolate, and know that all has been produced by the mad efforts of corrupt and ambitious men to buy and sell their fellow men with impunity, to rule or to ruin. Although strongly opposed to Capitol Punishment, I cannot help acknowledge that hanging is too good for the authors of so much misery. God grant that they may be soon brought to justice. I shall watch with intense interest the movements of the 14th Regt. of New Jersey Vols. I know that it is composed of good material and that it will never disgrace itself. You may be anxious to know what I think of colored troops. They make in my opinion very good ones, but I cannot say as good as white men. There is now the same average intelligence. I regard them as a very valuable addition to the service and I think the President did a very wise thing in enlisting them. That they will fight the past has shown. Our regiment now drills as well as any white regiment I ever saw, but as far as cleanliness and neatness is concerned they need continued punching. We have a very strong position here. I think the Rebels would have great difficulty in taking it if they had a very large force with which to attack. We are located on the Bay of Pensacola opposite Fort Pickens, which is on Santa Rosa Island. The Rebels once had possession of the land which we now hold and of Forts Barrancas & McCrea, but Fort Pickens was too much for them and they were forced to yield and to quit the field. Leon requests me to remember him to you. He is a splendid soldier and I would not exchange him for any white Orderly Sergeant I ever saw. He manages my company like a charm. Steve is a very good fellow also but he cannot be compared to Leon. Please remember me to the Col., and Chaplain, and to the Major when you see them. I wrote to the Major a long time ago but he has not replied. Hope to hear from you soon.

I remain your sincere friend,

William A. Prickett
Formerly of 14th N.J. Vols.

Direct to Capt. Wm. A. Prickett
25th Regiment, U.S.I. Col'd
Dept. of the Gulf
Barrancas, Florida

(To) Elias D. Smith
Q.M. Sergt. 14th N.J. Vols.

Very neatly written and in very fine condition. Superb content concerning negro soldiers! Rare letter!

William A. Prickett, enlisted on Aug. 9, 1862, as a corporal, and was mustered into Co. G, 14th New Jersey Infantry. He was promoted to sergeant, Sept. 1, 1863, and discharged for promotion on Jan. 26, 1864, when he was commissioned captain, Co. G, 25th U.S. Colored Troops.