3rd & 19th Missouri Infantry

Item LTR-6101

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.


Young’s Point, LA
June 10th 1863

Dear Sister,

As the rebels are not showing themselves much today, I have time to write a few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. Notwithstanding that, we are troubled once in a while by them. But they did not dare show themselves here yesterday nor today. But we have been on the lookout for them and have plenty of men here now to whip them out if they dare to come. But the best of it was that we frightened them so badly the first day they made their appearance when they were in large enough force to have eaten us up. Now we have plenty of men and cannons to whip the very dickens out of them if they dare to come on. Alf at Milliken’s Bend said they had a very severe fight of about 15 minutes during which time there were a large number of our men killed and wounded. But the rebels were finally driven off. The attack was made at Milliken’s Bend at the same time that they came here to attack us. The bend is about eight miles from here by land. I heard nothing new from the other side but I believe the siege continued slowly but surely. Grant had sent a force around by Carthage to intercept these gentlemen who are bothering us wo and I hope they will succeed in surrounding and capturing them soon. For I hate to be called out in the night. As we often have to, to guard against surprise by them.

My health is not so good as it might be. But still I am able to go out to fight them when they come so close to us. I have not heard from Charles for a long time. I begin to think that he has forgotten all about me. I suppose my correspondents think that I am lost by this time or at least some of them for I have not written a letter to anyone except brothers and sisters for a long time. But they can hear from you fist as well.

Give me all the news when you write. Give my love to all the folks and believe me as ever,

Your affectionate brother,

Francis M. Graham