Tiptonville Missouri

May 4^th 1862

 

Cousin

                        This is Sunday evning and the rain is prattering against my tent heavily and every thing looks gloomy All the boys are in their tents with the exception of the guard who are keeping their vigils. And our linen city wears a lonesome appearance. You cannot form any idea of a rainy day unless you were a soldier awhile and let it rain then you could appreciate it. Nothing will give a soldier the blues sooner than rain, especialy if he is inclined to being thoughtful. Some men never think Such men would not blue under any circumstances whatever unfortunately for me I think sometimes and consquently get a little blued especialy when it rains. But I never allow it to get the upper hand of me. We are laying here inactive for what purpose the wisest of us can't tell. The mules and horses that we had in charge have been removed, which has greatly reduced our cares we had to get up early every morning go to the wood cut a load of cypress clubs and drive off the buzzards off their skeleton carcasses. that then we worried ourselves greatly lying on our backs reading novels for the want of better employment thus we spent our time while the animals (their frames I should have said) were here / What we will do now for morning employment I cant tell. The novel reading will go on as usual.

 

            I visited island ten yesterday and saw all the sights and wonders of that Gibraltar of the Mississippi. It is the strongest place I ever saw. why the rebels ever abandoned it without a strugle is a military enigma. It could have been held against any force that could have been brought against it if it had been proberly managed Foote's gunboat fleet notwith standing. I counted thirty three heavy guns yet in position besides what our men have taken down. The guns range from 32 pounders to 64'^s with hundreds of tons of shot and shell all of the most improved style. the mainland also was strongly fortified four breast works on the river above the island and two opposite mounting the same kind of ordnance as those on the island. in the rear of the breast works above the island is an earthwork fort covering about an acre and a half of ground guarded at each corner by a 32 pounder and surrounded by a ditch about twelve feet deep with almost perpendicular sides. here is a rude drawing of the fort

 

north side next river

ditch

 

west side     cannon      cannon

 

Bridge over                             Battlement

over                                         protecting

ditch                                        gate

 

cannon       cannon

 

South side ditch /

 

 

Here are also drawings of the several batteries

Explanations

[square]           magazines

[circle]            guns on pivots that turn in all directions

[ C ]                 guns on pivots that turn half round

 

[sideways diagram of the island]

 

river

north side of island

 

here were batter

but no breastworks            river

Island 10                     up river end of island

 

south side of island

river

 

mainland    here are situated the breastworks

                      marked A

 

river                                        river

            mainland

A         A         A         A

 

this is the fort represented on page second

                        ditch

                        fort /

 

From these rude drawings you can form some idea of the magnitude of and strength of the place.

The breast works are about eight feet high and twelve wide the in side are is made of gunny bags filled with sand and also the divisions marked thus | between the guns. these division walls are twelve feet wide at the base and eight feet at the top. In the rear of these upper works were the camps of the infantry and artilery. the tents and camp equipage of all fell into our hands.

 

I also saw a large pile of torpedoes or infernal machines I did not take very particular notice of them as the were surrounded by water they are cylindrical in shape pointed at each end and about six feet in length. How the are used I can't tell.

 

            I must close this letter as Myres want to write and I am ocupying his desk you must not wait for me to write but write every week I like to hear you. Give my love to your Mother and the rest of the folks tell them I am well and in good spirits

 

Good night. direct

your letter to Cairo I^ll and tell Fathers family to do the same I wrote three letters home and in them I told them to direct their letter to Madrid which was wrong you rectify it

To S M Harding                                                          R N Harding

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