Near Big Black river Miss

July 22^nd 1863

 

Dear Sister

I received your letter of the 5^th yester day before yesterday. you will see by the date of my letter that we have got back to the Big Black once more. The rebels evacuated Jackson on the night of the 16^th. Gen Grant did not succeed in enforcing unconditional surrender this time. Our camp was about two miles from the city. About noon on the 17^th we received marching orders and supposed we were going into the city but instead of that we were sent off about 11 miles above to a ford on the Pearl river. The object of this move I did learn certainly some said to intercept a rebel supply train and another [?] was that 2000 rebel cavalry were expected to cross there but we saw nothing of either and after remaining there over night or till about 10 oclock A.M. Saturday when we started off to the Mississippi Central Railroad and went to work tearing up the track. Our brigade tore up about eight miles. We did not have time to tear up much that night before dark but had to go to work at daylight sunday morning and worked till ten oclock. We then rested till noon and took dinner and then burnt the railroad station and started back for our old camp near Jackson about seven miles distant where we arrived about sundown pretty well tired out. I do not know the number miles tore up in all but the 2^nd brigade of our division was at work above us and some western troops tore it up between us and Jackson. Perhaps you would like to know how we went to work to tear it up. We used one of the rails for a lever to pry the others up enough of us taking hold to handle it. After prying up all the rails we took the sleepers and piled them up and put the rails top of them and then put some more sleepers top of them and then set fire to it. The fire and weight of the sleepers on top of them warped the rails so as to render them useless.

Old Camp near Milldale Miss July

 

23^d.

I was writing yesterday when orders came to move camp on about 4 miles across the Big Black where we stopped the rest of the day and washed up and this morning we came back to our old camp hear Milldale. We expect to take transports soon and go back to Kentucky so our /

 

campaign in Mississippi I suppose is ended. Several men died from the effects of heat during the march from Jackson. When we got back we found the sick that we left behind were still here and amongst them Leavitt. He has been very sick with fever they did not expect he would live but he is much better now and will probably get along now. He is so he can walk out round. The rest of Harvard boys are well excepting Ephraim Houghton he was unwell and did not go out with us on our expedition of the railroad but he is better. I am well and have stood our tramp as well as I expected. You recollect that you wrote to me in regard to Mr Turners son in the 9^th N.H. Vols. When we were on the march to Jackson we stopped near the Big Black over one day and the 9^th was camped near us and he came over to our regiment and hunted me up. I liked his appearance very much. He looks hearty and tough as though he might stand it. I have not seen him since as we have not stopped long in a place so that felt like running round to hunt up the regiment as we needed all the time we could get to rest. When we go aboard the transports I shall probably come across the regiment and shall endeavor to find him.

 

As to the news of the day I do not feel prepared to discuss that very intelligently as I have not seen a newspaper of a very late date. We have any quantity of rumors afloat but I do not know what is true and what not.

 

We are rather a hard looking set of chaps now as we have not had a chance to draw clothing since we came here and some of us are getting rugged and then the men are somewhat tired out into the bargain /

 

But a few days rest will set us all right again and then we shall be ready for another job. I am glad you have got a chance to go to school at Groton this fall and hope father and mother will not be lonesome.

 

I believe I have written all the news and so I will now close with much love to father mother and yourself.

 

From your brother

E. W. Stacy.

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