Gunboat Cincinnati
Mouth of the Yazoo
Feb 15/ [18]63

Dear Sister Maggie,

I received your letter and Jenny’s together with the other articles about a week ago, but having no news to tell after answering Jenny’s, I concluded to wait awhile before writing you. We are again back to the Yazoo River having been relieved on the 9th by the gunboat Pittsburg. On the morning of the 9th a short time before getting underway, a company of twenty-six soldiers were brought down from the Flagship by the tug. They belonged to a German regiment whose numbers had been so reduced that they were disbanded and then distributed amongst the different gunboats of the fleet. They are mostly stout sturdy looking Germans and will be a good addition to our crew as a number of our men have been sent to the hospital. They are to be used as Marines and have taken possession of No.6 and No.7 guns. This makes a change in our crew. I am again 2d shotman to the No.3 gun of the Bow Battery, the rest of the crew are taken to fill some vacant place in the other gun’s crews.

IndianolaThe gunboat Indianola ran the blockade on the night of the 13th. The night was very dark and rainy and it is supposed that she ran past the upper batteries before the rebels were aware of it as those who heard the firing only counted twenty shots. The flash of the guns could be plainly seen and the report of them was like that of thunder showing that the rebels have some very heavy guns at Vicksburg. The Indianola is built Monitor fashion and carries four guns: two 11 inch and two 9 inch , I believe. The iron plating on the sides I should judge to be about 3 1/2 to 4 inches thick. The decks are also thickly plated with iron. It must be very hot aboard one of these boats in the summertime as the men have to sleep and eat below water. The boilers, engines and cook’s galley are all below water.

Two Buffalo “boys” (Frank Busher and John Hill) were sent from our boat to her as she is, I believe, short-handed. Frank Busher formerly worked at the Western Transportation as a carpenter. He says he knows father. I hope she got down to Farragut’s fleet safely, but I have not heard anything about her since yesterday. A misquitoe boat and the Transport Brown came down bringing a mail, but I was disappointed at finding nothing for me. One of our rams was badly used in coming down the river last week by the rebels. About twenty miles this side of Napoleon the rebels opened fire upon her with their artillery. Several shots entered her sides; two of them entering her steam pipe scalding one man so badly that he died the next day. Another was knocked overboard in some way and drowned. They were both negroes, I believe.

I understand the colored population of the city of Buffalo have been having a glorious time over President Lincoln’s Proclamation which gives freedom to all their brethren found in the hands of rebel masters after the 1st of Jan. 1863. I hear that they had a large meeting at Roth’s Hall. I hope that “de colored population of de city ob Buffalo” is not on the increase. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. I wonder if valentines sold well in Buffalo this year and if many were sent. The weather is rainy. Last night for several hour[s] the rain fell in torrents and there was a continual flash, flash, flash of lightening then followed by rumble, rumble, growl, growl of thunder. The night was pitchy dark. What kind of weather have you in Buffalo? Plenty of ice and snow I suppose. But I must close now. Give my respects to all the folks. I hope Mrs. Lander is better. I have not heard from them yet. Write often,

Your Affectionate Brother,

Daniel

 

P.S. Remember the stamps for if I had no friends I should be unable to send this letter. Dan

Footnotes

 

The United Sates Gunboat "Indianola" (Iron-clad) Running the Blockade at Vicksburg. Line engraving, 1863. NH 59100. U.S. Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h59000/h59100.jpg.

This engraving actually depicts the event Daniel describes; the Indianola running past the Vicksburg batteries on February 13, 1863. It was published in Harper's Weekly.