DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900

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Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900

1862-12-25 Page 2

We are passing some fine plantations now. (We have left for our final landing place) I suppose we go near 12 miles up the Yazoo river & come in back of Vickburg. We are now about entering the Yazoo River. I forgot to mention that one day a young fellow came on board and asked for me. I found him to be Johnny Hays a little fellow 4 years old when I first [saw him when**?]brought from New Orleans to Indiana [**?] bring up many a time. I had played with him. He is in the 13th Ill. You can tell Mother when you write to her that he is well. is now on parole as he was taken prisoner 8 weeks ago near Helena & since paroled. I learn from Mat it was Gen'l Sherman who ordered those men shot as he had given orders to let property alone & when he found they were at it gave them 15 minutes to come on board. They did not & he ordered his Regulars to fire, which they did & killed 6 privates and the Captain out of the 31st Iowa. He says members of his company saw it done & the men buried. So it comes pretty straight. I say it is right. Such vandalism puts off the [days?] of making any overtures heard & whether it does or not is an unmanly & barbarous way of carrying on war among Christian nations in this 19th century. Friday 26th We are about going up Yazoo now. have orders to load guns & be ready for fire from boat. I'll write as soon as I can again. Love to you all my friends. Let Homer Van Antwerp & others see this.  A.R.B. 
[written vertically in middle of page:]
{Name?] says that Homer he has not written to his wife now & may not for some time as in fact many others say too
so that thee may know where & how we are & then keep the letters safe yourself

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We are passing some fine plantations now. (We have left for our final landing place) I suppose we go near 12 miles up the Yazoo river & come in back of Vickburg. We are now about entering the Yazoo River. I forgot to mention that one day a young fellow came on board and asked for me. I found him to be Johnny Hays a little fellow 4 years old when I first [saw him when**?]brought from New Orleans to Indiana [**?] bring up many a time. I had played with him. He is in the 13th Ill. You can tell Mother when you write to her that he is well. is now on parole as he was taken prisoner 8 weeks ago near Helena & since paroled. I learn from Mat it was Gen'l Sherman who ordered those men shot as he had given orders to let property alone & when he found they were at it gave them 15 minutes to come on board. They did not & he ordered his Regulars to fire, which they did & killed 6 privates and the Captain out of the 31st Iowa. He says members of his company saw it done & the men buried. So it comes pretty straight. I say it is right. Such vandalism puts off the [days?] of making any overtures heard & whether it does or not is an unmanly & barbarous way of carrying on war among Christian nations in this 19th century. Friday 26th We are about going up Yazoo now. have orders to load guns & be ready for fire from boat. I'll write as soon as I can again. Love to you all my friends. Let Homer Van Antwerp & others see this. A.R.B. [written vertically in middle of page:] {Name?] says that Homer he has not written to his wife now & may not for some time as in fact many others say too so that thee may know where & how we are & then keep the letters safe yourself