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

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Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900

1863-05-23

I saw one of our boys, he said Jo S. was about the same (left in camp) saw Kinkade also and one of Moses Goffs sons of 23d Iowa our Col. is wounded again also, Capt Nye (so said), slightly both of them, George Pearson was taken Prisoner and is on Parole
23. Firing still very heavy  Our troops are gaining ground all the time, as fast as the gun boats silence their batteries our land forces push up and. hold them. The river front will soon be ours. How many poor fellows will be mangled for life  in this fight! It pains me to think of the widows and orphans who will have all joy turned to mourning. today wife tomorrow (and often, for weeks before she knows it) a widow. God grant it may not be your lot.
24th Last night a load of wounded came to us (300) and today all are busy dressing wounds. They do not  seem to be very badly wounded,  generally in arms and legs. Firing was very heavy last night again they have 8 mortars now at work, and as many gun Boats, and are completely surrounded, driven into their last line of Entrenchments inside the city limits, part  of the city being ours now, but every street and alley is a fortification and they seem determined to make it cost as dearly as possible. Well see send this off now & commence again. To day I have longed for home I have a nice place to lie and read when not busy on the 2d floor on the right side of the boat, front end, windows low and plenty and to day is very pleasant & breezy, and I lay on my bed. My man "Levi Looker" on another, just us two in one room, and read, and day dreamed of you & home  Love to you my dear wife, heaps of it   Yours Ever A.R.B.

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I saw one of our boys, he said Jo S. was about the same (left in camp) saw Kinkade also and one of Moses Goffs sons of 23d Iowa our Col. is wounded again also, Capt Nye (so said), slightly both of them, George Pearson was taken Prisoner and is on Parole 23. Firing still very heavy Our troops are gaining ground all the time, as fast as the gun boats silence their batteries our land forces push up and. hold them. The river front will soon be ours. How many poor fellows will be mangled for life in this fight! It pains me to think of the widows and orphans who will have all joy turned to mourning. today wife tomorrow (and often, for weeks before she knows it) a widow. God grant it may not be your lot. 24th Last night a load of wounded came to us (300) and today all are busy dressing wounds. They do not seem to be very badly wounded, generally in arms and legs. Firing was very heavy last night again they have 8 mortars now at work, and as many gun Boats, and are completely surrounded, driven into their last line of Entrenchments inside the city limits, part of the city being ours now, but every street and alley is a fortification and they seem determined to make it cost as dearly as possible. Well see send this off now & commence again. To day I have longed for home I have a nice place to lie and read when not busy on the 2d floor on the right side of the boat, front end, windows low and plenty and to day is very pleasant & breezy, and I lay on my bed. My man "Levi Looker" on another, just us two in one room, and read, and day dreamed of you & home Love to you my dear wife, heaps of it Yours Ever A.R.B.