U S Steamer Autocrat

off Cairo Mound City, Ill.

May 7^th/63.

 

Dear Parents & Brothers,

                        Once more and after a long delay I seat myself to write a few lines to you. But I have so much to write that I scarcely know where to begin. it is quite a while since I have wrote to you, and first of all I will tell you the reason why. We were on an expedition up the Tennessee River, and it was nearly as much as useless for me to write any letters while up the River, for it would have been only by chance that the letters would have reached you. I received 3 letters from you a few days ago, the one containing Uncle Johns likeness and two others. I want Mothers likeness taken and sent to me again, for that other one does not suit me. I want her to get it taken with nothing on her head, as it was the Cap that spoiled that other one. I got that paper containing Gov Johnstons speech. Johnson and Wright are both smart men, and as far as I am acquainted with their history, are just the kind of men we need now. /

 

Well, this finds me on board the Autocrat, with my Company again. The reason why, is, I am still unable to do anything. I left the Band because I could not stand it, and I doubt some whether I will be able to stand anything else, if so, why of course I cant help it, the Dr here says he is going to send me to the Hospital Boat one of these days. had better not, or If I get well enough to do anything, I may take a notion to stay there a while and help take care of the sick. I hope Mother is getting better, the same with all the rest of you. Health is one of the greatest blessings we can enjoy, and I hope you may all hereafter enjoy your full portion of it. my disease I think is now of a general debility than anything else, the same if you remember, that I had once for nearly a year. I took it three years ago last fall.

 

Well, I guess we got into a muss some time ago. we went up the River as far as to Eastport all right, scouted along up the River a little, burned some distilleries, mills &c. and raised Ned a little. coming back, a few miles below the mouth of Duck River between four / and five hundred Rebs, poor ignorant scoundrels, mistook our fleet for Transport Boats loaded with cattle, and accordingly fired into us with 3 pieces of Artillery and their muskets. the musket balls done no damage, excepting one shot which killed a Sargent on board the Adams, but the cannon balls, which happened to be shells instead of solid shot as the Chicago papers say, made the splinters fly some. 7 or 8 struck the Autocrat 5 or 6 the Diana. I was on the Diana then yet. one of the shells passed through the centre of the smoke stacks just above the tower part of the hurricane deck, passing through the upper part of the cabin. it exploded in the first smoke stack. after that it made the splinters fly in every direction. there were only a few solid shot thrown. one of them killed a man on the Autocrat. it tore the left side of his breast and his left arm off, but you should have seen the Rebs skedaddle after we opened fire on them. instead of firing into cattle boats, I guess they found they had stirred up a hornets nest or something else. the boys acted (that is, most of them) with a coolness / and bravery which showed that they had been in such business before. after the Rebs had been were silenced, (of which the Gun Boat Tyler done the most,) and we had passed the place some distance, our men, Cavalry and all, were put ashore on foot, supposing the Rebs would perhaps show fight, but they had enough, and gave a glorious leg bail. after following them a few miles the Cavalry returned and got their horses, and again started in pursuit of the enemy, but did not overtake them. the Rebs left 9 dead and on the field, and their wounded Major in a farm house. the Major afterwards died. after scouting around some, the boys returned. the rest of the account in the Chicago papers is correct, the Adams was struck twice with cannon ball.

 

T J Albright did not come to see me while at St Louis. I received them stamps which you sent to me, also I. as to sending me anything, I scarcely know what you would send me. you had better wait a while yet until I see whether I am going on the Hospital boat or not. I can not complain in any way yet, for I did not enlist in the Army for that purpose. I enlisted to fight, and if the Rebs will just show their noses, they will see that I can shoot as well as any body else, if I can do no more. our grub consists of Biscuits or light bread, sometimes hard tacks, corned or fresh beef, bacon or sow belly, beans, peas, coffee, molasses, &c.

SOURCES