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Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900
1862-12-24 Page 1
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On board fleet Dec 24, '62 Dear Wife I wrote to Mr Van Antwerp on the 20th & you will hear from me through that up to that time. We finally struck tents on Sunday the 21st & went on board the Tecumpseh, bound for Vicksburgh, I suppose. Our flotilla amounts in all to 80 Steamboats & all the Gunboats & mortars could be raised. Our fleet is only 38 boats. We were expecting orders and when the time came were not long in getting ready, were on board in an hour with all our traps. You can imagine the noise & bustle of a camp breaking up in a hurry. I can't describe it. We went to the upper landing at Helena that night to take on coal and laid there till near night Monday 22nd, One man of Co "E" fell over board & was drowned that night. A young man. We went 12 miles down Monday night & joined the rest of the fleet. Lay there till 4 A.M. Tuesday where we left for farther South. Passed Napoleon Ark. at the mouth of Ark river at 2 P.M. It is a small place. Once had 1500 souls perhaps. Now looks deserted & dilapidated.
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On board fleet Dec 24, '62 Dear Wife I wrote to Mr Van Antwerp on the 20th & you will hear from me through that up to that time. We finally struck tents on Sunday the 21st & went on board the Tecumpseh, bound for Vicksburgh, I suppose. Our flotilla amounts in all to 80 Steamboats & all the Gunboats & mortars could be raised. Our fleet is only 38 boats. We were expecting orders and when the time came were not long in getting ready, were on board in an hour with all our traps. You can imagine the noise & bustle of a camp breaking up in a hurry. I can't describe it. We went to the upper landing at Helena that night to take on coal and laid there till near night Monday 22nd, One man of Co "E" fell over board & was drowned that night. A young man. We went 12 miles down Monday night & joined the rest of the fleet. Lay there till 4 A.M. Tuesday where we left for farther South. Passed Napoleon Ark. at the mouth of Ark river at 2 P.M. It is a small place. Once had 1500 souls perhaps. Now looks deserted & dilapidated.
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