Gunboat Cincinnati,
Mississippi River,
Dec. 1st [18]62

Dear Friend Jamie,

Having a few spare moments to myself I thought I could put them to no better use than by writing to you. It is now two weeks since we left Cairo. We have made very slow progress on our way down the river. We were detained two days by a fog a few miles from Island no. 10. Island no.10We have often had to anchor on account of low water and sandbars, and had to go out in small boats to find the depth before we could proceed. We do not run at night at all but anchor in the stream. We do not have as much time as we had on the Dolsen therefore I have very little time to write. It is useless for me to attempt to describe what I have seen since I left Cairo. I was not born with good descriptive powers therefore I’ll not attempt it. We passed Columbus and Hickman on Sunday and anchored a few miles from Island 10. Columbus is a formidable place. It is well protected by nature on account of the high bluffs along the bank of the river. It didn’t look to be a very beautiful city. There are several batteries before reaching Island no.10 the ones on the Carondelet ran by. They are now nearly destroyed. The Island itself is nearly round and contains, so one of the officers said,about forty for fifty acres. It is now quite high out of the water, but in high water it is sometimes covered over. We anchored at Island 25 and stayed nearly three days on account of low water. While there we took on board four darkies who were seen walking along the shore but when we ran aground a few miles below the island they were delivered up to their master. He had been after them before but the captain wouldn’t give them to him. Why he did not I can’t tell. I pitied the poor fellows.

We have got the jolliest happiest set of contrabands aboard you ever saw. They are always full of fun. We have often had a good time with them. Aleck and Black Hawk in particular. We often get them together and have a regular plantation dance with them. Aleck does the patting and Black Hawk does the dancing. We have picked up three more since we passed Fort Pillow. One a little below the fort, another last night while anchored at Napoleon. He had come from Little Rock. He was crossing the river in a canoe when the quarter master hailed him. Another was picked up on the bank this morning as we passed along. The poor fellow was making frantic gesticulations towards us when we stopped the boat and sent the dingey after him. The boat floated down the stream some distance and the poor fellow ran as if his life depended on it to keep up with us. He was patches from head to foot and it would be hard to tell which piece of cloth belonged to the original garment.

The Civil War in America: midn... Digital ID: 813160. New York Public LibraryFort Pillow is the most formidable looking place I’ve seen yet. High bluffs rise one above another for one or two miles. Battery after battery range along the sides of the bluffs. We reached Memphis on Wednesday night. It is the finest city I’ve seen since we left Buffalo. I wish I could have got ashore to take a look at it. We staid [sic] there all Thursday and left the next morning for Helena. There are a number of regiments in camp there on both sides of the river. We stayed there Friday and coaled up. The Benton and General Bragg were anchored when we came up. But the Bragg left a short time afterwards. We scrubbed and white washed the boat on Saturday. I tell you we’ve got to keep things clean here. We have been divided into watches and now that we’re in the enemy’s country a whole watch has to be on duty at a time giving us none too much sleep.

GuncrewEach gun has got its crew. I am 1st sponger to no.6, a broadside gun. Every night we get them ready for action so that we may be fully prepared in case of an attack. A.R. Jackson is ship’s painter. Dutch Peter, the quartermaster, is boatswain mate. Old Frank has been turned out and I’m glad of it for the boys would never have any peace with him. Charley Robie is dead. He fired one watch and I supposed that heat struck his brain, beside when he came out of the hold he was sweating from head to foot and sat down in front of an open port and took cold. The poor fellow was in agony for a day or so, then he became insensible and continued so til he died. We buried him in the woods. I suppose that you are aware of the fact that several of the boys are firemen. All the boys are very desirous to know whether our names are down on the enlistment roll for one year during the war or for sooner discharge. Will you please inform us. Have there been any boxes left at the Warf boat or letters. If there are, send them along. Look at the 2d Cincinnati draft and see about their term of enlistment. The boys all send their respects. The boys are all well. I hope your health is good. Can you tell anything about our accounts, if you can, tell me the amount of mine. We expect to reach the fleet today. I am mess cook this week. But I must close. Good-bye till after the Battle of Vicksburg.

Your friend,

Dan

 

P.S. We have reached the fleet. The Signal, Marmora, Mound City, Carondolet, Pittsburg and a packet are here. The Lexington and some other boats are about here somewhere.

D.F.K.

Footnotes

Map: “Map showing rebel batteries at Island no. 10 & vicinity for the defense of the Mississippi River, captured by U.S. Forces April 7, 1862 surveyed under the director of Brig. Gen. Geo. W. Cullem, Chief of Staff and Engineers, Department of the Mississippi. .” .

Image 1: London Illustrated News. The Civil War in America: a midnight storm on the Mississippi -- federal flotilla at anchor off Fort Pillow, 1862. Digital Image ID: 813160. New York Public Library Digital Gallery. http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?813160.

Image 2: IX inch Dahlgren smoothbore gun, pivot mounted on a Civil War gunboat. NH 61933. U.S. Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h61000/h61933.jpg.