(Postmarked Memphis, Tenn. Aug 7. To Mr. Isaac Carhart, Yanktown, Delaware Co., Ohio)
Vicksburg, Miss. July 26 Dear Friends: This morning finds me in camp near Vicksburg City on the bank of the River. it has been some time since I wrote on acount of not having a chance. we have been out trying to catch Old Johnson but did not suceed. no doubt you have heard of the surrender of Vicksburg.. it surrendered the fourth day of July.. I intended to write ameadetly after the Surrender but we were ordered to march the morning of the fifth so I had no chance. We marched in the direction of Jackson, Miss. We reached there & comenced to canonade them. we formed a line of Battle and marched up within about one mile of their fortifications and comenced to build brest works. We kept up skirmishing and canonading untill the 17th when Old Johnson Skedadled the Rebs made several charges but with little affect. Our division had no regular engagement. Our Cavelry force chased old Johnson some distance. Took considerable many Prisoners.. our Regt was ordered to move the 19th we went about 120 miles south of Jackson and tore up 2 miles of railroad track. We then marched back to the Brigade and started for Vicksburg where we are now camped. I think the Rebs are pretty well cleaned out in this part of the County.. the forth of July there was thirty two thousand five hundred & sixteen Rebs surrendered at Vicksburg and have been Paroled. the 7th of July Port Hudson surrendered with five thousand Rebs. they have also been paroled. the 17th of July Old Johnson skedadled from Jackson. we have scattered his army so I guess he will not get them together again very soon.. the fortifications at Jackson are much stronger than at Vicksburg. but it is not fortified in the rear of the city. We were about to come in on his rear so he thought he would be getting out of there. we distroyed the place so it will be of no more acount. I think there will be no force left there.. there is some as nice country where we marched through as I ever saw.. but we defaced it considerable.. we had apples, peaches, tomatoes & green corn by the holesale. there is not enough left where we had been to keep a Reb very long. I think there will be a light harvest in Miss. this year. we had a pretty hard march it was so warm and dusty.. the timber where we went was mostly Oak & Pine. the first time I ever was in a Pine country.. the farms are rather larger than in Ohio. you will see some trees thousands acres in one cleared place and then two or three thousand acres of timber in one plantation. the country is roling.. they tell me it is very much like Iowa. the country around Vicksburg is very Broken.. the City of Vicksburg is no very great sight. it is not as large and not near as nice as Delaware. Jackson is still smaller.. the Rebs at Vicks… were pretty hungry when they came out.. the most of them said they were tired of the war and wanted to go home. good many of them said they wont never fight any more. they said they were going to let the oficers fight out the rest. I understand that Old Morgan is playing smash up with you. I hope he will kill or laiy off all them devilish Copperheads. I don’t think the Union men are very spunks or else there are not a great many of them.. if reports are true.. I understand that Old Bill Chandeler put two Secesh flags on his horses heads and went to the Copperhead piknick on the (fourth of July??) for this he ought to be shot. if you had some of our Boys up there some of them low lived contemptable devils would get hung up to the first tree they come to. they are so mean they arent fit to be in the Rebel Army.. the rebs hate them nearly as bad as the Union does. I received while at Jackson a letter from Almeda dated June forth which I answered.. while out below Jackson taring up railroad I got one dated June 28th and to day I got one dated June 15th. I was very much pleased to get them. they were very interesting me.. You spoke about Emeline N. being with you. I should like to have been with you.. Give my best respects to Emeline and Aunt Ophelia.. tell them I will write if I have a chance.. tell Ophelia & Amelia that William & Charley Smith are well. I want you if you can without much trouble to get me up a pair of pants with lining in them. I want cotten pants.. my woolen pants are not the kind. they keep to many (what we call) gray Backs about them. get something dark colered or blue.. Some cheap that will ware well.. Any kind of lining will do.. if you get them up and have a chance to send them. send my black wool that if it is not to much trouble. I will make it all right. the march to Jackson was pretty hard on my Clothes. I guess I will stop for this time. Write soon.. give my best respects to all the friends.. direct to Co. G. 96th Regt O.V.I. 1st Brigade, 10th Division, 13th Army Corps Army of the Miss..
(No signature. Written by Lucius Carhart to Mr. Isaac Carhart, Yanktown, Delaware Co., Ohio).
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