Vicksburg, Miss. Sept. 23. 1863.

 

John, you can fold Davis's letter

in its old shape again

 

Dear Brother:

                        You must not think I have forgot you because I have not wrote you in so long. Writing has got to be so disagreeable that it is the hardest work imaginable to bring my mind to the task. However, like on all other occasions, you'll have to excuse me, and take my word that I'll not be so long in writing again.

 

                        There is not much going on down here at present. There is a rumor of an expected attack on this place, but where the force is coming from to attack us, I can't see, unless it is some small force prowling in the vicinity, and intending to catch us unawares, by making a sudden dash.

 

                        How long we may stay here, it is impossible to tell; we may be here all winter, & we may leave next week. Gen. Logan has got back, and taken charge of his Division again. Our time will be up in ten months from the 25^th of this month. Some say that we will be mustered out in April. So mote it be. 

 

                        Our company is considerably reduced from what it was when first mustered. What with those dead, discharged, transferred or detailed, we have this day one 2d Lieut., home on furlough, 2 sergeants likewise home on furlough, 1 sergeant, 3 corporals, and 11 men—15 in all—fit for duty, out of 80 odd when we first enlisted. If we keep on decreasing at this rate till the end of our service, there wont be a man left in the company.

 

                        Vicksburg has been a town of considerable business importance. The town is not quite so large as Peoria, but there are probably twice as many business places. It now looks battered and dismal, with scarcely a whole house in the place. The greater part of the citizens had left it, but still there are a good many here. There is scarcely any business going on, except what is connected with the army. Sutler's stores, & Jews are thick around.

 

                        The health of the army is pretty good, considering the time of year. We have had extremely warm weather, until the past few days, when it turned around, as sudden as it does in Illinois, and was so cold that we could hardly sleep nights on account of it, and overcoats were extremely comfortable in the middle of the day. Mosquitoes are terrible. I never saw the beat of them in all my life. As big as a bumble bee and with bills as sharp as their stings, they'll pierce through / almost any thickness of clothes, so that a man to sleep comfortable at nights must have his blankets thickly plated with iron

 

                        We are living pretty poorly just at present; not drawing half the rations we ought to. Flour, bacon, coffee, sugar and fresh beef twice a week, is all we get; no vegetables at all

 

                        Deloss Prugne, of the 20^th, went home on furlough the other day. I have not seen him or Ben Soudders since we came inside the breastworks. The last time I saw Ben he wanted to know why you had not wrote; as he had wrote you and had got no answer.

 

                        I had a letter from Alex Patterson two or three weeks ago. He was then well. I wrote him an answer a few days afterwards. I wrote father a letter the same day. I saw John Howard, Jim Heddleston, & some others from Plano, some time ago. They are in the 127^th. Alex tells me in his letter that Tom Willett and his wife are parted. How is it? I sent father three papers the other day—two copies of the Vicksburg Citizen, printed on wall paper, and a copy of the New Orleans Picayune. I wish when you see him, to tell him to preserve them, as I should like them again when I get home. I send you too (which I hope you'll preserve) a memento of this "Great / Rebellion", in the shape of a letter from Jeff Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy. As it is an old letter, and does not treat of the present time, it is valuable only as a specimen of his writing. It is a genuine letter, picked up here in Vicksburg.

 

I'll send you an occasional Memphis or New Orleans paper. Be sure and write soon, and I'll try hereafter to be more prompt in writing. I would have given you an account in this of our doings in the rear of Vicksburg, but I presume it is rather old for you now. Since being in we have had one march into Louisiana, but without any fighting. We are kept hard at work, building a new line of forts & breastworks inside the old rebel lines.

 

Give my love to all old friends. Write soon

 

Truly yours,

Jas. M^cMurtrie

Address to Co. E. 8^th Ills. Infty

Logan's Division

17^th Army Corps

Vicksburg

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