On board the Steamer Hiawatha

going up the Mississippi Aug 7^th 1863.

 

Dear Father

 

            After waiting at our camp at Milldale since my last letter to you we have at last got started back up the river. We could not get transports sooner. We expect to reach Memphis tonight sometime and shall probably stop there a day or so to coal up &c. and we shall have a chance to send letters so I thought I would write. Not much news has transpired since I last wrote down this way. It seems they / had quite a row in New York and Boston over the draft. But at last accounts it was about over. The soldiers do not sympathize with the rioters I can assure you. I have seen the names of the Harvard drafted men and of the other towns joining. The list gives general satisfaction to Harvard boys in the 36^th. I hope our late successes will render it unnecessary for them to come out. I received a Boston Journal from you but have not received a letter since the 6^th of July. I received one from Georgia the other day and will answer it soon. I also received one from Charlie Emerson stating that George had got home 

 

            The Harvard boys are all aboard and well excepting Sullivan Leavitt he was sent on the hospital boat in advance of us. When he left us he had got over his fever but was weak. We are bound for Cairo in the first place but I do not know certain where we shall go after that one report is that we are going to Kentucky again and another is to Newport News. There is one or two items of news that I got. We have had two more regiments put into our brigade viz the 8^th Mic^h and the 79^th New York and one the 27^th Mic^h is going into the 3^d brigade "so" we shall have the 79^th N.Y. 45^th P.V. 8^th Mic^h and the 36^th Mass in the 1^st brigade. / Col. Morrison the commander of the 79^th outranks Col. Bowman so he takes command of the brigade so Col. Bowman has resigned and his resignation has been accepted and he is going home. Our Lieut Col. Norton has also sent in his resignation and it has been accepted. The regiment will be under the command of Major Goodale of Worcester he will probably be promoted to Colonel.

 

We are all of us glad to leave Mississippi as we have had a pretty warm job of down there and we are promising ourselves much joy if we go back to Kentucky. Give my love to mother and Mary and keep some for yourself.

 

From your son

E. W. Stacy

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