The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-07-02
Letter from the 4oth Rssimsnt.
SNYDER i BLUFFS, Miss, }
Back Of Vieksburg, June 18th. (


Back Of vicksburg, June 14th.
MEssRs FDToRs My time at home
was SO short and engagements so press
ing, that l had to forego the pleasure
Of calling upon you in your sanctum,
but trus; that the visit | now propose to
make will atone for the seeming neg
lect and Iapprehend that to your rea-
ders il will be like the politicians favors,
small ones thankfully received, and
large ones in proportion. write
not so much at this time for you rs |
do for the many friends Of the boys in
the regiment, who having heard by
this time, that we have moved to the
fighting army about yicksburg, will be
anxions to know the immediate posi-
ton Of their own kit and kind"
Preached Lagrange on the morning
Of June 4th. whittier marching orders
2, had preceded Inc but few hours. !
wsstruly glad to te on hand at so i'm
portant a time as the breaking up Of
an old camp. which is only slightly
foreshadOwed by the lst Of April in
home circles. a-s
We marched to Memphis, fifty 1.-TWO
miles in a day and = quarter, and by
evening Of Sunday the 9TH Of June, was
safely on board the steamer Crescent
: City.
I The brigade is now commanded by
Col. S. u. Hicks Of the 10th Illinois '.
l.. formerly in the Mexican war, and
consists of tie 10Th o. V. /. 10th Hi
nois v l, and the 18th Michigan V. !.
At daylight ofTuesday we cast cable
and were off for Vicksburg in good
tspirits and high hopes. Nothing Of
( Importance occurred OH the way down,
above theusasl incidents ofriver travel.
| might bran out on the beauties of
sunset on the broad bosom ofthe father
of waters, but these descriptions have
been made by others who WELD SO
much stronger pens, that / shrink from
the attempt and VIII therefore only
say it was to the fullest extent what
the lady meant when rayislred with
delight at the sight below her feet, she
cried from the depth Of her heart, "Oh
hhow picturesque. On Thursday noon
we reached Snyder's Bluff. one ofthe
chain Of Haines Bluffs. We are now
on fighting ground, and feel the i'm
portance of our position; for if john
son wishes to reach the rear of Genl
Grants force at Vicksburg he will
likely try it through this way, as it
would be poor generalship to leave a
live General in so good 4 position to
flank him and cut off his retreat. And
should he. upon the other hand, attack
as. ] think he will find Gcnl W. S.
Smith at home ready to attend to their
call, and in addition Genl Sherman is
not far of ready to cheer on the boys
to greater deeds Of glory. As yet /
have not been permitted to see the
! General. but learn he is daily engaged
in skirmiShing with the enemy.
The sun is burning hot, but then the
breeze is strong throughout the whole
day, and the nights are not only cool,
but actually cold before ::.orning. The
water of the river is very injurious to
those who use it without boiling, but
! we have in the hollow springs run
ming water, and at other places by dig
ging wells, we get plentiful supply
of pure, healthy water; so that | think
we are safe in saying that our position
is not only strong by nature, but made
stronger and more comfortable by the
labor Of willing hands and we trust with
cheerful dispositions, the health of the
army will continue as good as at our old
home Lagrange.
Since we reached here ono Of our
number has been laid in the clods of
the valley. He was from. Van Vert,
and should have been left at Memphis,
but the hurry of the march left no
time to make out the necessary papers
to be made for the soldiers own pro-
lection, concluded to bring him along.
Yesterday the gunboat Baron De
kalb carried beyond the lines another
installment of the st. Louis rebel wo-
men. Thus they realize the fulfill
ment of Davids declaration, The way
Of the transgressor is hard" Having
now given the friends our position'so
that they may know where to look for
us in ease of any serious action, |
leave you for the preseat hoping that
the young editor may soon find the
gray goose" (referred to some time
ago by Harry Comer) with whom to
fpass the rough road of life, and aid in
holding up his hands in supporting
our own great and good Government.
SO - ZIP. EMIL GIESY.