Year: 1862




On BOARD STEAMER, GONG DOWN.
THE TENNESSEE, May 20.


FRIEND TINES


1t is long time since have written q
word to you, but business and orders from
headquarters ordering reporters from camp,
must be conclusive evidence that necessity
compelled a cessation of correspondence
But now far from camp in the quiet state.
room Of steamer, resume my letter to
you.


l came up the Tennessee in April, upon
the steamer Imperial, and while upon board
of her, had many chances to see the vari
Gus positions men occupy in the army
The officer with his ample salary, occupies
the cabin, for which he pays good round
price. The private has the deck for prom
enade, eating and lodging The WAGNER
who with his team, supplies both man and
beast with his daily food, occupies any
place outside of the cabin he may find, and
if flush with money, he can have a place
at the dinner table for one half dollar
This is the price per meal for high or low
rich or poor. State rooms arc also extras,
so that steamboat riding is an expensive
luxury. During the trip, a regular came
very near shooting the captain of the boat,
who saved his life by his agility, and the
regular paid the penalty by being chained
to stanchion during rain storm. The
army furnishes many hard customers.


The boat ahead of us was fired into by
secesh who were hid behind pile of slaves,
wounding two men; this caused at that
time little fear when passing this point
A gunboat from Pittsburg Landing was
sent down which shelled the woods, and
secesh have been scarce in that locality
since.


Arriving at Hamburg, miles above
Pittsburg, l found the main army had en-.
campcd in its vicinity, but in few DAYS
took up its march towards Corinth, leaving
the sick at this point. 1t is now general
depot for commissary and forage stores, and
also general hospital for Gen. Ha!leck's
army. Many poor soldier lies upon the
cots arrayed under large tents, suffering
from various diseases, and it will try the
stoutest heart to walk through the various
wards and look upon the pallid and flushed
faces that surround him. The physicians
and nurses are working day and night, still
many are necessarily neglected for want of
help.


Hamburg is pleasantly situated, and the
gardens around the houses are full of roses,
flowers Of various kinds, peach and apple
trees loaded with fruit; but wars devas-
tating hand can plainly be seen from day
to day making of an Eden desert. 1t is
right that the country should feel the effects
of war, for by their own acts have they
brought down this curse upon them.


| have seen many secesh prisoners and
they invariably have the Impressed story to
tell. have come to think but very little



Of them, thinking that the undaunted and
warm hearted chvalrous sons of the sunny
south must have lived long before Tennes-
see was captured by the mud slls'' of the
north. The inhabitants are uneducated
and unpublished, and among the prisoners
but few can read or write, and talk in many
cases with decidedly negro phraseology.
| am satisfied to live at the north, and nv
rdpturous ideas Of the south and its inhab-
itants have taken wings and flown away.


Hundreds Of six mule teams come to
Hamburg daily, after forage and rations for
the army, and at times when a blockade
occurs in its principal streets, imagine
am at McGregor in her palmiest days.


l am now on my way to St. Louis, but
shall return in few days, and if General
Halleck has taken Corinth, will give you
a description Of Pennington, Corinth and
the position of our army but being good
Union man obey orders and am mum
upon such subjects until the danger is
over. s.---- XXX