This one is particularly exciting, because he relates news of the surrenders of both Vicksburg and Port Hudson. The copies that I received indicate that the originals are in the National Archives. I have tried to reproduce the original spelling, punctuation, and grammar as closely as possible. To indicate new sentences, I have inserted extra spaces in between where there was no punctuation.
Paragraphs are somewhat arbitrary, as the original really has none.
Sometimes it seems as if his thoughts were racing faster than his fingers could write, as certain words are missing and a phrase seems incomplete. Notations in brackets are either words that I was uncertain about, or clarification points. The Band have just ben Playing a lively Tune and the men of the different Rigt have ben cheering this morning. I hope that the report will prove trew it is said that a Gun Boat came down from there and brought the news. This is the most important news that we herd as that I have to write.