(Written in pencil on piece of ledger paper)
June 6 /63 Camped in the rear of Vicksburg part of the time in the Rifle Pits Dear friends.
Once again I try to pencil a few lines.. it has been some time since I have written. but not because I have not wanted to but because I have not had a very favorable chance. we left Perkins Plantation the 28th of May.. and got to the Brigade the 31st. I suppose you would like to know how things are situated about this time. I write you about how our armey got at the Rebs.. how they went down to grand Gulf and took them in a way they were not looking.. I cannot discribe the situation of the Country any more than I have heard it told to me. I have not seen it.. but you can see about how it is by looking at the map.. as I understand it Grand Gulf lies just below where Black River goes into the Miss. and the head of Black River is some whare near Yazoo City.. and it takes a Circle round about 30 miles to the rear of Vicksburg. there is a large rail road Bridge acrost Black River on the Railroad that runs from Vicksburg to Jackson. Grant whiped the Rebs at Grand Gulf and they retreated back to the Railroad Bridge and made a stand there. Grant came up and sent part of his armey to Jackson and routed the Rebs there and burned the City.. they then came back to the Bridge and comenced going for the Rebs there.. the Rebs came out from Vicksburg with reenforsements. they brought out 70 (seventy) pieces of artilery and they got back to Vicksburg with three. they had a pretty hard fight at the Bridge. the Rebs did their best there. they new if they were whipped there they were about gone up.. but General Grant just went for them and they had to skedadle back to their strong fortifications. the Rebs have 12 (twelve) large Forts with a wall of 15 feet high round the. they are just in the rear of Vicksburg City and we have them completely surrounded we have a line from the Miss River above to the Miss River below Vicksburg and the Guns and morter Boats on the River. we have got two rows of Rifle Pits around the forts one is within about one hundred yards of the fort. and our sharp shooters ly in them and if a man shows himself from the forts he is shot.. the sharp shooters keep the Rebs from working their artilery. we have been here one week. and they have not fired but two big guns.. they fired a few rounds and the 17th Ohio Battery dismounted them. they did not hurt a man.. about five hundred yards from the forts is another Rifle Pit and two rows of Artilery. we have to ly in the rifle pits every other night and be ready in case they should breakout.. I have not been in any fight here yet and do not expect to unless they should break out. and then I do not expect much of one. for we are well fixed for them.. about one week ago the Rebs oferd to surrender the place if Gen Grant would let them March out. Gen told them it was not the place he wanted it was the men he was after. Since then they have ofered to give up (continued on a piece of writing paper) all but three men. Gen told them he wanted all or none they have a good many women & children in Vicksburg.. Gen Grant oferd them a chance to sent them out when we first surrounded them but they would not do it.. since they have tried to sent them out. and the Gen told them if they would send sixty days rations with them they could come out.. but they have not sent them out.. our men are playing away upon them with their artilery morter boats & sharp shooters day and night, they are tareing them to peices while we scarcely loos a man. Then Grant told us to keep cool he said we were nothing but Guarding Prisoners. Gen Pembleton is commanding the Rebs at Vicksburg.. Since I came here I have received two letters one dated May 12th the other the 22nd. You said you had got the money and coat that I sent.. Good for that. so much so good. while I was at Perkins Plantation I sent a Book home by male. the title was Language of Flowers. Just mention it if you get it. it was one that one that one of our boys got when out on a scout at an old Planters house.. I heard the other day of the death of Joseph Gregg. he is the first one that had died from our mess. I shall have to stop. I could write much more about the affars, but have not time. I have written to much all ready. My health is good, the boys are well.. give my best respects to the yong folks.. tell Adelade John is well. no more at present. write soon Good by Lu Carhart (Across top of first page) I have seen Charley and Chauncey Smith since I came up here there were in the fights.. all so Philander They were well with the exceptions of their wounds Chauncey was wounded in the hand slightly.. Philander was hit just below the brest but did not hurt him much. Charlie is all right. June 16th 63 Camped in the rear of Vicksburg
Dear Friends: This is a very warm day. we are camped in a hollow about 800 yards from a Rebel Fort.. the Country here is very Rough.. deep hollows & high Ridges. It is not as healthy here as it was in Louisiana. There are good many having the Chills & Feaver.. nothing dangerous.. I have had 2 or 3 Chills.. but have got rid of them now. We have not taken Vicksburg yet.. things are about the same they were two weeks ago but the Rebs cannot stand it allways.. They have got to give up some time.. for they are completley surrounded.. our men keep hectering them all the time.. by shelling them.. they scarcely get a chance to shoot a Gun (that is a big Gun) the operations here seem to stur the hole armey.. both Northern & Southern. it is reported that Gen Johnson is gethering a force and going to atact us in the Rear.. but I think he will fail to accomplish anthing.. for we have a larg force to protect us in that direction.. our men are fortifying all the time. I wish you could see how we are situated here. I cannot discribe it as it is fixed.. the Rebel forts are in the shape of a horseshoe open to the rear.. rite to the rear of these forts is another fort that comands the first one.. so if our men make a charge and take the first forts the Rebs will fall Back to their other forts.. and they will be of no use to us.. to take from them… they have got it fixed up about right.. but I am afraid they will have to give it all up.. I have just been into the Rifle pit where I could see the 17th Battery fire into the fort.. the Rebs tried to fire one of their Guns this afternoon and the 17th Battery just Pluged the shell rit into the port holes made the…… fly……. the Rebs could not fire a shot. there are some of the Rebs that have come over to our lines.. they Report that our shells kill & wound about one hundred a day.. and they kill and wound scarcely any of our men.. there is no one hurt of our Regt yet by the Rebs.. since we have been here.. they had some pretty hard fighting Back at Port Gibson, Champion Hill & Black River Bridge.. but since they have been here we have lost very few. I got a letter from you the other night dated May 31st. You said crops looked well. there is not much down here to look.. when we left Perkins Plantation 2 weeks ago corn was about as high as a mans head. about 5 feet. times are rather hard. we do not draw full rations.. we have to by considerable and things are very high.. Chees 50 cts pr lbs.. butter 50 cts lb.. Eggs 50 cts pr dozen.. five cts loafs Bread 20 cts penny cakes two for 5 cts. dried apples 20 cts lbs. it costs money to live. while we were at Perkins Plantation we lived first rate. the Dewberries growed there by the Bushel.. we gathered them and we drew Flour.. and we made pied by the holesale.. but since we come up here we have to stay in this hollow and have no chance to gether anything.. You wanted to know if I thought it was safe to express some butter. There is no ofice here that I can get to very handy. and I guess it would be of no use to try to send any. (No signature. Is there another page?)
(Lu’s usual fine handwriting deteriorates in this letter, obviously written under great stress.)