Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-08-07
Navy Correspondence.
[For the GallIpolis Journal.l
U. S. RAN FLEET, July 81, 1869.

VIZ ONeA---sl
U. S. RAN FLEET, July 81, 1869.
Mr.. HAKPER:-I have often heard
reporters say that the dullness preced-
ing SIGHT, or the same feelings after
the excitement is past, makes uninter-
esting letters. Were / possessed Of
correspondent ability, 1 feel that every
day / could write something Of interest
for those at home. ] think that "good
grub" and laziness has more control
over reporters in this section than the
wish to keep the people posted. Want
of time on account Of duties, together
with lack of ability is my excuse for
not writing more frequently, but if you
will look over my poor composition
and take it for what it's worth, I will
try and keep you partially posted from
this section. I feel that poor as my
letters may be, l have few friends in
your goodly place who will read with
interest. Could the goodly citizens Of
GaliipoIis have witnessed last nights
scenes, l think cry of enthusiasm
would have burst forth-that the patri-
otic hearts of Gallia county would re-
sound to the new call for troops with
such cry as would cause the country
to look with pride on that section. We
need you all, every man. Come join
the army, must be the cry until rebel
lion is crushed out from the land
Our mortars opened on Vicksburg
about 8 P. NJ, and every heart was
fred that the hour for fighting had at
last come, and Vicksburg would soon
be ours. But alas, disappointment was
again our lot. 1t seems strange that
Commanders are so slow; probably
"Mr. Small Fry" should not talk thus,
but we will talk, and if something don't
soon take place we will do more than
talk, and / feel sure the people will sus-
tain us. Could you see the suffering
of those sick and wounded men who
are suffering in our feet, you would
feel that the hour had come when those
at home must come to their relief
But l will leave this firing of the hearts
Of this great people TO you, and those
whose duties run in this line.
AS l write our mortars are playing
on the rebel city and Notifications, and
the rebels are answering. But a mo-
ment since rebel shell burst over us,
and ! tell you, if you had heard the
pieces rafting around US, you would
have felt that the Journal Office would
be much safer place than the decks of
the ram "Samson," now on picket
duty below the fleet, and in range
Of the rebel guns, where we have been
for three days and nights. "Fun is
fun," as the old saying goes, but il
there is any fun in having the pieces Of
ten and thirteen shells bursting and
falling all around you, 1 have not yet
been able to find the point in the joke.
and il you can inform me where it is, l
will gladly acknowledge the informa-
ton. Vicksburg is not taken, the
canal did not work. Viii h9 No.
W1ye Too slow. is the cry. We want
at least twenty thousand land force be-
fore we can successfully accomplish our
mission. We can take the place any
bright day in less than six hours; we
cant occupy it for want of land forces
Guerrilla firing is all the go. The
"Wilson," one of the navy tow boats,
was going up to Memphis after coal
with some empty barges two days since,
when the rebels at Lake Providence
pitched into her with field piece, and
she was forced to scuttle her barges
and skedaddle, which she did with a
good grace. We are now between
fires all around US. The deadly aim of
the guerrilla is blanching forth to take
our lives. Go when and where you
will, the rebels appear to be ready for
you. We give them some nice little
races BY pitching shells and canister
into the woods among them. But you
know their great forte has been "ske-
daddle." Well, 1 must not write too
much at one time but write oftener, so
with my thanks to some one for CALI
polls Journal received yesterday, 1 will
only add that ] still remain, yours &C.,
"RAM."