July 7, 1863
Major-General Halleck:
We have certain information that Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant on the 4th of July. Now, if General Mead can complete his work, so gloriously prosecuted thus far, by the literal or substantial destruction of Lee’s army, the rebellion will be over. Continue reading
June 20th. – The gentleman who took our cave came yesterday to invite us to come to it, because, he said, “it’s going to be a very bad to-day.” I don’t know why he thought so. We went, and found his own and another family in it; sat outside and watched the shells till we concluded the cellar was a good a place as that hill-side. I fear the want of good food is breaking down H_. I know from my own feelings of weakness, but mine is not an American constitution and has a recuperative power that his has not. Continue reading
Double post Monday! This is the second and final post for today…
[Spelling is original]
In Camp, Siege of Vicksburg, June 9, 1863
Dear wife,
We are still tunneling away at the rebel works around the city and in the same position as we were when I last wrote to you, with a fair prospect of remaining so for several days to come, but we will go into the city of Vicksburgh after awhile, that is shure, for we can live outside of their works longer than they can inside of them, that is certain, for we can get everything we want, and they can get nothing atall. We hear all kinds of rumors of how they are suffering fro want of water and provision, but we can’t tell which tale is the true one, and so we let them pass for what they will fitch. Continue reading
Sanitary Store Boat, “Dunleith”, on the Mississippi, above Memphis;
April 1st 1863
Dear Father,
…The day after our arrival [on the 22nd] Gen’l Grant sent an aid on board out boat to take us near to Vicksburg as it would be safe to go. It was near enough to set our watches by the town-clock and to see negroes shoveling earth upon the breast-works. Bissell was building a case-mate battery for two 30 lb. Parrotts, concealed from the enemy by the levee, at the point nearest the town; from which it was intended to open fire upon their R.R. station and Commissary storehouse, the morning after we left. Continue reading
Providence La.
March 16th 1863
My Dear Jennie,
Another bright beam has come to cheer the darksome way of the wandering soldier boy, another happy moment calls me to thy side while I would gladly peruse thy dear message of the 28th ult, that came on the 24th inst, would that I could lay aside this tardy medium. Oh how cruel! Yes cruel that I cannot greet thee as two months ago, but perhaps tis well life cannot all be sunshine. Yet I should not complain when the recipient of such a dear letter as yours of the 28th ult. Continue reading
Thursday night [March 5, 1863]
I forgot to write last night; I was so busy getting my accounts right &c. &c. After prayer meeting I went to the Sutlers, & had a very successful time at Davis; he and Manning would have sold me the whole store, & Davis brought the bundles home, under his cloak, after night. How completely Milroy is circumvented; his orders are, that no citizen shall buy without a permit, & then, only a limited amount; I have spent hundreds of dollars at the Sutlers, without any permit, & they help me to carry out my plans. After the war is over, I will publish my account of it. Continue reading
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