Camp 11^th Regt. N.H.V.        

Mill Dale Miss. June 25

 

Dear Sister Mary

                                    You will notice we are a long distance from the camp where I penned my last letter to you. Kentucky no longer numbers us among its defenders. We left that land where we passed ten weeks so pleasantly on the evening of June 3^rd 1863. For several days previous to that on which we started so suddenly for Vicksburg, we had been making preparations for a long march towards Somerset or rather Tennessee The roads in the Southern part of Ky are not macadamized so that when it rains they are almost impassable, therefore were obliged to lighten our teams by cutting down baggage. just as every thing was in readiness for a move, came an order to dispatch the 9^th Corps to Vicksburg. One Wednesday night after supper I was preparing to go down town and visit some friends when / the Adjutant came along saying, "We move in twenty minutes" Whew! didn't we jump.

 

            Well we marched that night until 12, halted four hours, marched again all day reaching Nicholasville at 5 P.M. We marched to it in order to take the cars. they do not run any farther. Took the cars and made Cincinnati next day (Friday) at 11 A.M. Here got a splendid dinner. While here found Orren Moore who treated me handsomely, also Dick Folsom. Left Cincinnati at 6 P.M. on the Ohio and Mississippi railroad. Along the route at every station crowds of people met to cheer us on. Bouquets were thrown into the cars by the dozen I got as many as eight, several of them had billet-doux attached with name and compliments of the donor. About midnight we reached Seymour Ind. While were stopping here about a dozen officers myself among them were treated to a nice dish of strawberries & cream by some fair young ladies. But space will not permit me to describe half that I might of these little things. Suffice it to say we did not suffer on the way and I could not help thinking, If these strangers / will do so much for us what would not our friends, those dear ones left behind do?

 

            After making a rapid trip for a soldier train, we reached Cairo Ill. Sunday morning at 4 o'clock. My journal says "Sunday 4 a.m. at Cairo Went down & got breakfast at St. Charles hotel" "Regiment came off the cars & stopped in the mud all day Cairo is a dirty miserable city" And really for a city of seven thousand inhabitants it's the meanest place I ever was in, the town is built on one street, the rest are all lanes, forty rods back from the main street which runs parallel with the Ohio river you come to a marsh, which looks as though it had been constantly overflown, of course back of this there are no buildings. How teams ever get about in the city is a wonder, for on Lime St. which is the principal one I saw the wheels sink in the mud and stay there until drawn out by other teams Notwithstanding its miasmatic location it abounds in hotels and restaurants counted no less than twenty five regular hotels besides an innumerable number of saloons none of which were built of anything but wood and one story buildings. 

 

Monday Evening went aboard the large and splendid Steamer "Imperial" one of the best boats on the river. We had Gen. Ferrero and Staff also our brigade band. At 6 P.M. we [?] of the levee and turned southward. The river is very low now and our boat was so heavily loaded we stranded on a bar not eighty miles from Cairo. were obliged to stay there all night, got off early in the morning by the assistance of another boat. At 2 P.M. passed Island No 10, the fortifications are all taken away and the island is inhabited by contrabands they flocked to the banks by hundreds. Did not reach Memphis until 5 o'clock Wednesday afternoon was overjoyed to learn that we were going to stay over night. I went out and immediately found David Folsom who is in the gun business. I believe I never met any one whom I was so glad to see. Took him by complete surprise. He had no idea that we were in the west. Spent the night and next day with him every moment of which I enjoyed. David is one of my best friends. Left Memphis Friday a.m. at 4 o'clock Had an escort of gunboats to keep off guerrilla's We expected to be fired into at several points but passed unharmed. the 9's thought it not best to provoke the gunboats.

 

Finally at daylight Sunday morning found us at Young's Point, and a little later we reached Shermans' /

 

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Landing where we disembarked in plain view was the rebel stronghold—Vicksburg

 

While we were coming off the boat the huge mortars were playing not a mile from us. They send a shot weighing 200 lbs, and you may imagine what sort of a noise they make. When we saw and heard them, then indeed we realized what we were sent down for.

 

But must close.

 

For an acc't of our doings since we struck Miss. and the position of our forces about here—apply to Sue. Will write the rest to her.

 

Write often and direct as before. With kindest regards to all at Mr. Howards

 

Your aff. Charles

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