U S Steam Frigate Colorado

                                                                                    off the Mouth of the Missisippi

                                                                                                            Apl ^th2 1862

 

            Dear Farther and Mother

I Received the letter that Cousin Joe wrote of the 22 of Jan this Mail and was hapy to here that youre Wer in good health as this leaves me At Presant I was very anxious to here from you for I only got one letter from you this last two months and thought you was not going to write to me for I expected to get one every month from you but if you have Wrote any Since this thay Must have miss the mail that Comes out here for thare is a Mail Boat leaves New York once a month for us for I have Wrote A Letter to you and Joe every Month.

 

            I menched in my last letter that Whe Wer going to come here Since Whe left here on the 15 of March for Sip Island to liten the Ship So that Whe Could get over the bar at the S.W. Pass to have a hand in the attack of Fort Jackson Wich is going to take Place Sune this Fort is A Bout 40 miles from Ware Whe ar anked Wile Whe Wer at Ship Island Whe liten the Ship a bout 2 feet after Working 4 Days geting out the Spar Deck Guns and 40 Fathom of Cable Spars Rigin and Act the Captain found it was no use of Taking out any more as Whe Could not liten the Ship a Nough Whe Draw 23 feet Water and Thar is only 17 feet on the bar So Whe had to give it hup and let the other Ships do the Fighting thare is a bout 75 Ships redy to go and bombard this Fort Sune and they intend to give the Rebels hell Com Porter With is Morter fleet is going to throw Shell in to them and thar is 8 Steam Frigates of War and 25 Gun Boats Redy to go up thar and 12000 Soldiers under Gen Butler is going to make attack on New Orleans

 

            Most of our me are Discourage Cause We Could not get the Ship over the bar but the Captain told them that they Would get all the Fighting they Wanted be fore long.

 

            to morrow I leave the Ship to go up to Pilot Town With 12 Marines and Wat thay are going to do With hus I Do not Know unles thay are going to Put hus on one of the Gun Boats and Send hus to Fort Jackson

 

            Dear Farther I Must Close these few lines now hoping to here from you Sune Joe Menched in his letter that Grand Father hurd that our Ship Was Smashed up but it is not So for Whe are Safe and Sound as Wen Whe Left Boston.

 

            tell my little Sisters that im Glad to here that they have Got A lamb and expect to have a good Pare of Stockings mad of the Wool Wen I come back

 

            I Will Close now Sendind you my Best respects to all the folks

 

                                                                                    Corpl George Derbyshire

 

            Drict youre letters as be fore to the Colorado

 

[Envelope addressed to]

Mr Thomas Derbyshire

Temple N.H.

US Frigate Colorado

Ships letter

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