Gunboat Cincinnati
Mississippi River mouth
Of the Yazoo
Dec. 7th/ [18]62

Dear Father and Mother,

We are now lying at the mouth of the Yazoo (a-zoo) about thirteen miles from Vicksburg. We reached the fleet on Tuesday. It was then lying about 25 miles from where we are now. gunboatsOn Friday we raised our anchors and started for the place, the Carondolet taking the lead. The gunboats Carondolet, Mound City, Baron DeKalb (St. Louis) Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Lexington, two of the misquitoe fleet (up the river boats) and 2 rams constitute our present fleet. The misquitoes have gone up the river I believe. A number of other gunboats and rams are expected here soon. It will be some time I think before an attack is made on the city. But when we do make the attack I think we will be fully prepared.

When we were at Memphis thousands of soldiers left the city the morning after our arrival. Memphis is a fine looking place. Memphis, Tenessee. Digital ID: 54127. New York Public Library It is the finest looking place I’ve seen since I left Buffalo. We staid [sic] there a little more than a day and while there the old craft had her likeness taken. The gunboat Cairo was stationed here. We stopped at Helena and coaled up and started off on our journey again.

Fort Pillow is the most formidable looking place I’ve seen yet, but perhaps I’ve told you before, it is one continued [sic] range of high bluffs raising one above the other for about two miles. Battery after battery ranges along its side. Why the rebels didn’t hold out longer is more than I can see but nothing can withstand our gunboats. The water here is very muddy, but it is a good deal healthier than the Ohio. George can tell you how it looks. I have very little to tell you about this time. We know nothing about the doings of the army, hear no news only when we receive papers from our friends in Buffalo. I hope you will send them often. Send me the Christian Advocate often. I am glad George is exempt from the draft. You say Joe Galley is back to Cairo. When your letter reached me I had been away from Cairo three weeks. I don’t know whether it would be safe for me to send the package or not; he is on an up-the-river boat and I am on the down-the-river boat surrounded by enemies. However, if I get a chance I’ll do so. Report says we’ll go up the river (the Yazoo) in a few days, but I don’t believe it. We are now divided into quarter watches giving one part a watch of 8 hours sleep every third night, and all night in every fourth night. The first and 2d nights they have 6 hour sleep.

Has Archie gone to the Central School yet, and Robie got upstairs? How much fat has Maggie lost since she came home? But I must close and write to your daughter Jenny I suppose this will reach you about Christmas. Therefore I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. The weather here is beautiful but rather cool at night.

Your affectionate son,

Daniel

Footnotes

The photo is of the gunboats USS Baron de Kalb, USS Cincinnati (in the middle) and USS Mound City.
"City" Class of ironclad gunboats. Photograph. NH 56663. U.S. Naval Historical Center . http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h56000/h56663.jpg.

The lithograph is of Memphis, Tennessee around 1850.
Lewis, Henry. Memphis, Tennessee. Lithograph, 184. 54127. New York Public Library Digital Gallery. http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?54127.