Letter - March 18, 1863
Youngs point
near Vicksburg
March 18^th, 1863.

Dear Father & Mother,
Having a little leisure I will try and write you a few lines to let you know what we are doing way down in this southern country. As for my own part I have been acting as a wagon guard for sometime. There has been hard fighting around Vicksburg for several days. But our Reg't had not been called into action until yesterday. When, they marched at daylight to the boats on which our whole Brigade embarked. When, they went up the Yazoo. My being with the teams exempted me as they did not go. No horses being allowed to go, not even the Colonel's. The Rebels have batteries planted so that they could shell us with ease if they were so disposed. For yesterday & today they have thrown shells and solid shot within 80 rods [1,280 feet] of us. There was news came this PM that our whole Brigade was taken prisoners, but there is no certainty in what we hear, at any rate. It is fine weather. The days are quite short warm, so as to make the sweat run freely, while the nights are quite cool.
March 20th - -
I find that the Reg't went up the river about 30 miles. They are going to build a bridge over or across a bayou. Commodore [David] Farragut has Finally got up here. There is two of his gunboats laying about 4 miles below here and some of the Officers have been up here. It is pretty sure that operations are to commence shortly. The most of the men soldiers that were [at] this point have all been removed to some other place. I got a letter from Grandmother [Lucy] last evening. It stated that she was well & as usual. I guess that I get the most of your letters, although some of them have been on the road some time. ---- There is a Dredge at work in the canal and it seems to gall the Reb's consciences very much. For they cannot keep quiet [and are doing] the best that they can [to] fix it. For they are throwing shells at her every little while. But they have not hurt her yet for she still continues to keep at work. I will send by this letter $10 which you will find enclosed. The boys have gone to bed and they are laughing and carrying on at a great rate, and so I will come to a close. Direct the same as usual.
From your affectionate son,
Edward. ----