Gunboat Choctaw
Sept. 7th/ [18]63
Mouth of Red River

Dear Parents & Maggie,

You want me to write to you. Well the fact is I haven’t got time. Neither have I place to put things where I can get at them when I want them. You must also remember that I am not on board the Cincinnati now,Choctaw also that we are lying at the mouth of the Red River where it is very seldom a mail boat passes. I have written several letters which I have not received an answer to. The only reason I can assign for this is that you have not received them. Therefore knowing the reason why you do not receive letters from me, I hope you will not be fretting about me anymore. As long as I have health do not give yourself any trouble about me. You ought to be thankful that God has spared my life through so many trials[;] fights with the enemy, through sickness, etc. You say you are beginning to count the days when I shall return. I hope you will do so no more for it is just one week from tomorrow when my time will be out and our accounts are not here yet. I hope to get my discharge. I will be perfectly satisfied if I can get it by the first of October.

Guerrillas are beginning to show themselves about here lately. We are in the habit of sending an armed boat to the shore when we see anybody waiting as if they wish to communicate with us. The dingy, (the boat to which I belong), is usually sent on such expeditions. The other day two horsemen were spied on the farther shore watching the boat. Immediately the dingey was sent out to see what they wanted, but when we reached shore we saw them scampering along the levee as fast as their horses’ legs could carry them. I suppose that they were two rebel pickets sent out to watch our movements.

Last week a party of guerrillas came out of the woods on the nearest side and fired at our boat. The forecastle was full of men but none of them were hurt as the shots fell short. The men hurried into the turret as fast as possible and the captain ordered the woods to be shelled. We fired a few shots into the woods, knocking down a few Negroes’ shanties, but whether we done any damage to the guerrillas I cannot tell. We have not been troubled with them since. Transports pass up and down the river more frequently now. But I have nothing more to write. Give my love to all at home. Do not give yourself any trouble about me, but pray God that I may soon get my discharge.

Your affectionate son,

Daniel

Footnotes

USS Choctaw off Vicksburg, Mississippi 1863-65. Photograph. NH 55219. U.S. Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h55000/h55219.jpg.