Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-05-27
Camp at Port Gibson, Miss. J
Nav 4th. 1863
Dear Father. 81 Mother

Dear Father, 81 Mother
As We have chance
to send some letters IN the morning |
thought | would drop yea few lines to
let YOU know where we are, and how we
are getting along. Tue last time | wrote
to YOU, was at Perkins Plantation which
sent by one of my men who had got a
fu-lough; we were then getting ready to
leave down the river 10 trand Gulf We
went aboard one of the transports which
bad run the blockade az Flcksburg. and
laid on the boat during the night. The
next morning we left for Grand Gulf, dis
tant 30 miles, arriving there about noon
We landed on the La, side the boats
went back for more troops. We were op-
posito to the Gulf, ana could see their for
tifcations very plainly; seven Of our gun
boats were lying just out OF range OF the
enemys guns The next morning, the
29th, our gun boats got steam up snd steam
ed down towards the works of the enemy,
it was twenty-five minutes TO eight when
the bombardment comen eed, a7d did not
cease until half past one F. NJ it was
the grandest sight that | ever beheld.-
Ii was a continual roar of heavy guns
Our boats sienced all of THEN batteries
except guns. which the enemy were still
the gunboats drew of. we marched down
to the levee about three mics which
passed US bv the batteries. and out of
their range. About an hour after sun
down, the gunboats with our SIX trans
ports, commenced 20 run by the Gulf, and
strange as it may seem, they all got by
without ceiving any damage OF any ac-
count 1t was awful to stand and see the
{ IL I1t cF tb nd
ours, and hear the continual roar which
thew kept up When the men bund that
our transports were all by safe, they gave
cheer after cheer.
The next IL orning we were pIt aboard
of rhe boats and steamed down the river
about 20 miles, when we landed AMI star
ted (our div) for this place, wLiGh is
back from the Gulf about mihs We
marched all night, and at half Iast one
0 clock in the morning of May Ist " fell
in with the enemys picket. We drove
them In about two miles, when we came
upon one of their batteries. Our cannon
were brought to bear on 1t, and then com
menced another artillery duel, which last
ed near an hour. The infantry we're not
engaged, although we were there to sup
port our battery. Our brigade was in
" iSile the artillery were playing You
an, Judge whether was tired or not,
Ivhao tell you that went to sleep while
H., ,.,,,,,o nading was Goinr on although
rho sbaIIs ID grape were flying over cur
i'd tl;.L I'D fast, but II so happened
49, nono Hf ON, !R"gt was hurt There
,...,, ~ $50 "a ami some wounded
=, ,notbar Rar of orr Brigade There
~ - n killed also
The enemy fell back and we L!''
head about half a mile and ia,n va ~
arms 1t was then about @ 'cl|ck IN '''e
morning When day came we got SIM
tea and crackers for breakfast. Atabouo
SIX @ clock the enemy commenced 10 throw
Cheir shells at us ; our cannon, which /
were ready for them, commenced to play |
on them Immediately In a few minutes !
the first Brigtd of our Div were thrown /
forward and the fight commenced.-( We !
arc in the 2d hi ade.) soon liter, our
brigade was thrown forward also As
soon as we came in light OF the entire en-
emv, we made charre on them. cheerins
as we went " hich was more than they
could stand. and away went MIR. Rebels,
on a regular gallop, and we after them -
fhcy retreated about two miles, when, re
eeiving reiniorcemeuts, they again made
A stand We also bad received reinforce
inents. 1t was not long until the shot and /
she'll besan to hv thick aud fast around
us Cur Bri ri2ade wgs thrown out on the
tef i'etchn- our Rec. on the extreme lett
THE enemy throwed a large force on our
tett and tried to turn our flank, but the
old lth was there t. meet them, and meet
them we did. and braveiv too. They
nr,,S-.d rs hotiv for about hal an hour,