Vicksburg Miss

June 20^th 1864

 

Friend W^m

                        with pleasure I am seated to write you a few lines in answer to your interesting letter which came to hand this morning and has been read with pleasure I was truly glad to hear that you was still gaining health and strength My health is only tolerable at present but I hope when this comes to hand it will find you well. Mr. Robb is well as usual the boys are all well generally we have seen some of the smoke of the rebs guns and heard some of their shot rattle around us since I last wrote and two of our number are numbered with the slain Names B. Mason and Joseph Fields / another belonging to Co. G. had his head shot off, another of Co H. had his arm shot off another of Co. G. was slightly wounded in the leg with a shell that burst near him. there was also three horses killed. there was none of the other boats engaged at that time but ours. this took place at the town of Columbia, Ark. just above Greenville Miss. our boat in company with Diana. Baltic had been fighting Old Gen. Marmaduke who was said to have 5000 men. he planted his cannon at Columbia and then across the bend where we burnt that house the first time we came down the river. we had been at greenvill when he came a week. the first we knew of his being there was fireing into transports that came up and down. You will remember that we have on our boat 4 guns, the Diana & Baltic 6. each boat took turn in towing transports by these batterries the other two would follow and / and shell them. this went on a week or longer. we lost only one man killed. he was on the Baltick. he belonges to Co. H, his name I have forgot well on the 2^ond of this month the Adams was ordered to convoy a boat by the batterries at Columbia. the enemy had not shown themselves there for two days, so we were sent in Co with the Ram Monarch only when we came in range they let into us with 4 guns. we were then going up. no one was hurt. the boat was struck 8 times As soon as we were out of range we met another transport comeing down. we let the one go we had and lashed to the other, having her on the oposite side from the batterries to shield her from the balls. as soon as we came in range the let into us with 10 pieces. some of them 20 pound rifled. their fire was all directed at the Adams. seemed they aimed to shoot through us to hit the transport. Mason was on guard on the hurricane deck. a ball came through / the [?] and killed him instantly. Joseph Field was shot through the barrels. he was on the starboard side and near fireing his gun when killed. he lived some fifteen minutes after being shot. you wished to know what became of [paper fold] at austin. they were both exchanged for and are now with their Companies. they were taken to Richmond. there have been several of the boys taken in the last year some of them have been exchanged for some of them got away. they have never killed any of the boys that we know of. our defeat on Red River has made the rebs more plenty on this river. the weather is getting very warm with us. my friend I must close I hope you will write again soon please excuse the imperfections of this and remember me in your prayers. I am still trying to live to make heaven my home although my efforts are feble and I have many temtations to contend with. no more at present but remain your true and sincere friend  J. H. Horn

 

W^m O Albright.

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