No 6

Below Vicksburg, July 3^d, 1863.

 

                        My Dear Wife,

                                    At 11 o'clock, A.M. the Ohio Belle landed at the upper end of Young's Point a distance of 6 miles above Vicksburg.

 

            At this place I shouldered my knapsack haversack and canteen and took the "Old every thing box" in my hand and started down the Louisiana side of the River on foot. After travailing nine miles across the peninsula, I again struck the River six miles below and in plain view of Vicksburg, where I am now waiting for transportation across to Warrenton, which place is on the opposite side of the River from me and three miles below. I am informed that Herron's division is on the River and forms the extreme left of Grant's besiegeing army. I believe the 34^th is in that division although I have no positive information to the effect. If my Reg. is in Herron's division I will have to walk about nine miles up the River after I cross to Warrenton. I have such an awful load / to carry, and part of it so unhandy too, that I dread the trip. I have carried that box of dainties so far that I can't afford to give it away now.

 

            I understand that no boat will cross till 6 o'clock so that it will be impossible for me to get to the Reg. to-night but I think I will get to celebrate the greater part of the 4^th with the boys any how.

 

Boom! Boom! The morters and siege batteries are hammering away at the butternuts all the time. I think hard-nuts would be a better name for them; the are so hard to crack.

 

            It is talked arround here that tomorrow Grant is going to blow up his mines and celebrate the 4^th by takeing Vicksburg. If he does this it will be the most celebrated celebration that ever was on this continent; but it will not be a very jolly day to Old Pemberton if he has to pay all the expences of the affair. I believe I will not write any more till I get with the Reg. and then perhaps I can tell you something about our contemplated 4^th of July celebration.

 

            Good evening.

July 4^th.           At dark last night I crossed / over to Warrenton at which place I stayed till daylight this morning, when I again shouldered my traps and started out in search of the 34^th. I travailed about 8 miles and found the brush sheds and fresh dug wells which, I was informed, marked the camping ground of my Reg. three or four days ago but that since, it had moved in on the River a distance of about 6 miles. I further learned from my informant (the sutler of the 34^th) that there was a detatchment of the Reg. maning a heavy siege battery that was mounted up near the rebel works a distance of about one mile from there. So I concluded to go out to the battery first: I left my baggage at the old camp and started. I had no trouble in finding the boys among which was Cooney. He was about as glad to see me as I was to see him and had about as many questions to ask as I had. I found out by him that all our neighborhood boys were well so I was in no hurry about going to camp. Cooney was just now telling me of rather a sad affair that occurred here a few days ago. He said the rebels threw a 13 inch shell from a morter that struck within three feet of his gun / and within about six feet of him and bursted killing two men and wounding six others all of our Reg. Three of the wounded belonged to Co. K, and one of them Ransom Mitchell, was very badly wounded. One of the killed was Elijah Wayland of Co. E. Cooney did not get a scratch. Now I must tell you something about the Celebration. It did not turn out exactly as was expected yesterday but nevertheless, it is being conducted very satisfactory to all present and I think will be equally so to all our northern friends.

 

The cause of the change in the programme was the rebels lowering their battle flag and hoisting in its place a white one. I am in a very conspicuous place and am seeing about as much as can be seen from any one place on the line. The rebels have all marched out and stacked their arms, and our men have corraled them and marched them back into their works on which they have planted the "Stars and Stripes". Our flag is now waveing from all the forts that I can see on my right and left, and from all the principal buildings of the City. Our transports and gun boats have all moved up and landed at the City wharf and the gun boats are fireing a salute that seems to make the very earth tremble. I have not yet learned the terms of capitulation, but I expect it is only a varification of Grant's motto—Unconditional Surrender.

 

As it is geting late I will put up my pen and paper and go to camp.

 

July 6^th. I got into camp date day before yesterday evening and yesterday morning was detached to go up into Vicksburg and help guard the prisoners and was relieved this morning. Every thing has become perfectly quiet here. I heard yesterday that the place had not been unconditionally surrendered but did not hear positively what the terms were. We have moved our camp up into the suburbs of town. While I was on guard

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