No. 10.

Aboard the Tempest, July, 24^th 1863.

 

            My Dear Wife,

                        I again commence a letter to you without knowing when or where I will have the chance of mailing it. Last night after mailing my letter to you I went to the hospital for the purpose of staying with Dave, but when I got there I found that he had been moved to another hospital which I knew was not worth my while to try to find after dark, so I returned to camp, and this morning I started out early and soon found Dave. He was a little better than when I left him yesterday evening but was very despondent, thinking that he was left there entirely amongst strangers, but when I told him that Dave Crowley and George Sharpe were both somewhere in the same hospital he seemed to cheer up wonderfully. (Crowley and Sharpe were sent to this hospital while we were up to Yazoo City) I commenced hunting through the different wards and soon found both of them. Crowley has been very sick and is much reduced in flesh but is well of the fever / now and walking arround considerably and calculates in a few days to become a regular nurse in the hospital. Sharpe is already nursing in one of the wards now and he and Crowley both promised me that they would do all they could for Dave.

 

            Dave Crowley is not esteemed by any of the boys as much of a soldier but a better hearted fellow never wore shoe leather and I could not have chosen another man in our Co. that I would rather leave a sick friend of mine with than Crowley.

 

            After completeing all the arrangements for Dave's welfare that I could I left the hospital about 3 o'clock and when I got to the River I found the 34^th embarked on this boat. At about noon we shoved off and run down to Warrenton and landed, at which place we will remain till the remainder of the fleet comes down.

 

Charley, Frank and Cooney I guess will be all right in a few days. I saw Warfield Walker this morning. He came down to Vicksburg with some S^t Louis Copperheads that are to be shoved through Old Jeff's lines where they will have the chance of enjoying the benefits of the benign Confederate Conscript Act in place of the unconstitutional U. S. Conscript Law, and where they can get / plenty of Confederate script cheap in place of our high priced Green Backs. Warfield started back to S^t Louis in a few minutes after I was talking with him. Capt Gardner and John Chaney are going home on a sick leave of absence. As they were sent to the hospital to remain there till they could get their papers, you might hear something later from Dave by seeing them.

 

            July 25^th

                        Our fleet left Warrenton about 4 o'clock this morning. I believe there are no troops along at present but Herron's division and I do not know whether any more are coming down the River or not. We are now below the mouth of Big Black, and in passing I did not see any of our troops at Grand Gulf and from this fact I believe the works at that place have been destroyed and abandoned.

Several hours later, sun about ½ hour high.

 

            We are now several miles below Natches. I intended to mail this at that place but our fleet steamed right on by without ever making a halt. Natches or the main part of it is situated on a very high bluff and from what can be seen of it from the River it seems to / a fine City. But "Natches Under the Hill" I think was very well described by the friend of Davy Crockett (Thimblerig). I thought from the general appearance of it that there might at least be some truth in his assertion that the buzzards carry off the filth of the City and fevers (I would add together with secession) carry of the people. The latter part of the policeing I think was a great deal nearer completed than the former although the buzzards were as buisy as their slugishness would allow them to be.

 

            July 26^th

                        We arrived at Port Hudson some time last night and landed and we are still landed lying at the same place this morning I do not know whether I can mail my letter here or not but I will try it.

            With a sigh for the Dear ones left behind me, I subscribe myself,

 

                                                            Your loving husband,

                                                                                                Enos Reed.

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