The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-10-14
NATcHEz. Miss, Sept. 10,

NA1ShEL. AA1oS.f h1Opt. ~, 1COOs
The following are extracts from pri-
vate letter of "Potter boy" in the 18th
Wisconsin:
Left Knoxville oath August. At Cal.
ro met lots of officers returning to the
Regiment in time for muster August 81,
so had company and good time coming
down the river The suerrillas that | SO
much dreaded did not FIRE shot or make
any demonstration on the trip. At Mem.
phis we got aboard of the steamboat. Gen.
Grant and Adj't-Gen. Thomas were on
board, SO had a good view of them. | had
often seen Grant at a distance, but his
appearance at close sight and without
uniform is not as good as | had supposed.
He is not tall, and moderate in expression
and manner. Thomas is tall, six feet
two inches, old and gray-headed Had
few hours at Vicksburg. This is a
larger village than | had thought, it has
10000 inhabitants or more. The houses
are built close to the river. and extend in
solid brick blocks up the side of the hill.
1t is not beautiful place, and after ris-
ing the bluff the land is more uneven
than | supposed. Ravines traverse it in
every direction. Some families lived in
caves during the siege, while others re-
manned in their houses except during
very severe fire. The upper part of the
town is considerably damaged by shot, the
lower part less; but none of it SO much
injured as [ expected. Almost every
building shows marks of shot from 13
inch shell to musket ball, bat they ap-
pear to be only "holes in the wall" that
mason can soon repair Why bursting
shell did not tear them all to pieces, | can
not tell. Some fires occurred, it is true
Remove the rebel batteries and rife,p pits
in the streets and you have a city ready
for business. Very few citizens were
hurt during the siege that I could hear Of
Landed at Natchez Sunday morning,
August 30th. "Natchez under the hill"
is much smaller now than formerly, hav-
ing been destroyed by tornado and the
washing of the river within few years.
A few Irish residences and some whole
sale grocery buildings, &C., is all thas re.
main. Up the hill on good road one
half mile and "Natchez on the hill" is a
nice city of about 10000 inhabitants,
formerly) on nearly level ground, with
nicely built brick buildings, dry goods
stores, cotton warehouses, &C., but par
ticularly fine are the surrounding resi-
dences. Southerners excel the North in
spacious and costly dwelling houses, and
the North excel in all public business
buildings. Our Regiment is camped two
miles from the landing east Lots of
shade about here, but the past week or
more has been very hot. Mustered Aug.
3lst, and l am all right on the rolls.
Sept. l. Started on an expedition
against Fort at Harrisonburg, La where
the Ram Queen of the West" was sunk
by the Rebels; went via. Trinity. 1t is
dead level bottom land on the Louisiana
side and is oCerfowed yearly. Lake Con.
cordia we passed at FIVE miles, and is the
only clear and beautiful water have seen
south Of Memphis. Were ferried over
Gross Bayou" seventeen miles, in a
ferry boat ruu by hand on a rope, rather
tedious operation for two Brigades with
ten days ra.ions, two Batteries and Reg
iment of Cavalry, &c, At Trinity, 2S
miles, we found our pontoon train was
not long enough to cross Black River, so
constructed platforms big enough to carry
wagon and team and padded them over.
Trinity contains about 500 folks, aud as
all are living quietly and made no resis-
tance to our occupation they were unmo-
Tested. Sixteen miles more brought US
to HarrisoDburg But at twelve miles
come 20 junction of Alexandra road when
by marching in the night and very fast
we arrived in time to just head off rebel
force of $500 to 1000 enroute to reinforce
Harrisonburg We expected fight with
them and for several hours were in line
of battle, while cavalry skirmished and
reconnoltred, but could not bring them
to fight though the rebel force was larger
than ours We fastened to the fort,
which the rebels, failing to receive their
reinforcements had blown up as much as
possible and skedaddled double quick
The fort was the finest work | have ever
seen, or any one in our command. No
thing but extreme cowardice could induce
its abandonment. 1t was very expensive
and complete. Had some heavy case.
mated siege guns bearing 90 the river that
no gun boat could have taken. Twas
here the Queen of the West" was sunk.
But fvo families remained in Harrison
burg-some the rebs drove off-some fed
at our approach. Formerly contained fifty
or more families Lots of the houses were
burned bysomebody; niggers and soldiers