The letter is cross-written. Gore explains that he is very weak and had to break away from the other soldiers, because he could not continue marching. He states he would “rather suffer the pain of taking a finger off than to be left behind.” He writes that he will do anything to help, even if that is keeping guard over the other soldiers’ knapsacks while they fight. He describes General Dudley’s harsh treatment towards his men. He writes of a slave who was taken at Port Hudson and complains about the weather.
