U.S. Gunboat Cincinnati
Miss. River
Feb. 1, 1863

Dear Folks,

I must again write to you although I have not yet received a letter from home. We left White River on the 27th, having been relieved by the Conastoga on the 26th and arrived at the Yazoo on the 28th. Nothing took place worthy of mention while at White River except that quite an excitement took place the day just before leaving. A coal barge was seen floating along near the opposite bank with what we supposed to be men on it. We immediately got under way and started to capture it. We had hardly been gone five minute[s] when out came a ram from the White River. Now this is just what we had been watching for. It is lucky for us that it was our own ram, the Monarch, or it would have captured our store boat before we could turn round. It had been up the Arkansas and had come through the cutoff into the White River. It is well for it that it didn’t come down during the night or it would have met with a warm reception.

We left the Yazoo yesterday. Nothing took place while there worthy of notice but I am getting ahead of my story. We took the coal barge in tow finding it well filled with coal and tied it to the bank a short distance from the Sovereign. What we supposed to be men proved to be timber heads.

We are now laying at anchor about four or five miles from Vicksburg.Vicksburg. Digital ID: 54451. New York Public LibraryThe city can be plainly seen from here. It seems to be a very beautiful one. We are one of the guard boats. Yesterday our cutter was out on a picquet during the day and night. Today the Marmora takes our place. A number of rebel officers came aboard the Flag Ship yesterday under a flag of truce. What their business is, [is] more than I can tell. If Admiral Farragut’s fleet were up from below I have no doubt but that an immediate attack would be made on Vicksburg. Our fleet is at the mouth of the Yazoo. Three more gunboats are expected soon.

I received a letter from Jamie Stewart a few days ago. He is well and doing well, quite pleased with his situation in Cairo, and everything else. John Fox wishes me to say that he is well so if you see any of his folks you can tell them so. I enclose a letter from Mr. Jamison. Let Archie take it with him to school on Sunday. I have now to receive answers from Father and Mother, Maggie, Jenny and George and when the next mail arrives. I hope to receive a letter from someone of you.

Daniel

Footnotes

Vicksburg. Digital Image ID 54451. New York Public Library Digital Gallery. http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?54451.