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Head Quarters left Wing 120 O.V.I. on Board
U.S.S. Key West No. 2 afloat on the Mis. River
between Helena and Gaines Landing
Dec. 21/1862
My dear Brother Moses!
I have just returned from the Hurricane Deck where I
witnessed the getting loose from the Shore at Helena [Arkansas], and
superintented the falling in the Column of the Fleet at Regular Order of
my gay little Steamer Key West No. 2 which with five Companies of the
gallant 120th comfortably quartered on her, I have the honor to command.
When I arrived in my State Room and commenced taking off my boots I looked
at my watch and found it to be only half past eight P.M., too early to go
to sleep, so I concluded to put on my slippers and enjoy my hour between
this and bed time by writing to you, my true and trusty friend, thinking
that perhaps this being Sunday Evening and out of business you might
perchance be sitting in your happy family circle and forsooth talk about
me and if so our thoughts might meet and embrace each other; a comfort
which we may perhaps be deprived of for some time to come, but let us
trust in our heavenly father and hope for the best. While I write the boat
shakes awful but if we do not get a shell or two through our Ladies Cabin
I think my writing may be with a little care intelligible, but if that
little accident should happen it might make me rather nervous and spoil my
handsome stenography.
I have, if my memory serves me right, in my last
letter from Memphis given you a graphic description of my situation which
if I have told you at all, I am satisfied that [I] have said, so far as
Colonel, Brigadier and Division General is concerned, I could not be
situated better. They are truly all my friends and any of them will go as
far to please me as any superior officer ever dit for an inferior, in fact
it seems to be their constant studdey to do something that I would like.
Colonel French is in command of the right wing on board Steamer Jesse K.
Bell and our Brigadier with his staff are on board of her. They sent for
me this afternoon while we lay coaling and I had to take supper and, amid
negro singing and dancing, guitar playing, smoking and dancing, joking and
laughing, we whiled away a merry time until the signal gun rang through
the air, which reminded us that the Flagship was leaving and we were to
follow and then they coaxed me the hardest kind to stay over night and
join my command in the morning. But they didn’t know that I left my Major
behind very drunk, and he was totally incompetent to issue even the
simplest order; a serious problem of our dear Major which is very harmful
to him since he unfortunately understands very little in his most
beautiful sobriety, “a la militaire”, but he is a rather pleasant, nice
fellow who would kiss my big toe three times a day if I gave him the
opportunity.
As for this Department, I must say that I am not much
impressed with its order, discipline, nor soldiery bearing of the Soldier.
I am sorry to say we find many Regiments out here utterly demoralized,
who, instead of being able to pride themselves of being Soldiers in the
Great and glorious cause of the Union and for the Constitution, can boast
of being a debauched set of ruffians and many of them might be termed a
perfectly lawless set of robbers and thieves. My God, what will become of
such men after the War is over? Oh for a McClellan in every Department
that could go on undisturbed by a jealous set of abolitionists and while
he would soon end the war we could after it is over boast of having had a
civilized mode of war fare.
Speaking of McClellan reminds me of the facts that
the last news we had was that Burnsides was agoing to have a fight and
somehow, I do not know why, but knowing as I think I do that part of the
army I am ever since apprehensive. I am almost affeared to say it, but it
just seems to me that Burnsides or any other General in Command of that
Army would get whipped, except McClellan.
May be you will laugh at me, but Moses I think I have
sufficient knowledge of military to justify me in saying that McClellan is
the only man for that Army and ere this War is over I think the whole
Country will have to acknowledge it, in spite of all evil and malignant
opposition of a jealous and rodden hearted abolition crew, who are using
all their efforts to influence the President who I really think is an
honest man if let alone. Enough of this dark picture and let us hope
Burnsides may be successful or may ere this have driven the Rebels from
the Rappahannock and Mattapome and every other Anie and may ere this have
Richmond; he made a good General under McClellan.
Now Mosey you must allow me to run a little tonight
as I am all alone in the Ladies Cabin and nothing but the regular puffs of
the steam out of the pipe and the regular working up and down and back and
forth of the Machinery of the boat is all I have for Company. Officers and
men are in the Arms of Morphis and I feel like letting my thoughts run as
they will, knowing they go to a friend, where the foolish part will be
overlooked. By the way, they may be the last I ever will have an
opportunity to send to you. I trust and pray they may not, but the
fortunes of War are as [those] of the outside world, very uncertain only a
little more so, but let us hope, pray and trust that God in his infinite
Mercy may, as He has often before, protect and deliver me from all harm,
for I have really much to live for. Yet I mean to do my duty and my whole
duty and if my poor life will be any benefit and assistance in ending this
long and unfortunate Struggle in favor of our glorious Union, God knows I
will gladly give it. Oh my dear Moses it would do your Soul good to see a
fleet of over 100 Vessels besides the Gunboats on the father of waters.
The Vessels filled with Uncle Sams boys, gay, happy and cheerful, all
ready to meet danger and do battle for the good old Flag. Oh yes, by the
way, I have not yet told you where we are going to and what for, but I
enclose you a copy of General Order 13 issued by our brave Division
General which will explain itself. By the heading you will see where we
belong and by reading you will see where we are going and what we mean to
do. And I will only say that the 120th and your humble servant, mean to do
their full share if we get a chance. It will no doubt be hot and bloody
work. The expedition consists of about 40,000 men under General Sherman (a
Brother to Senator John Sherman and also [to] Colonel Sherman of
Mansfield) and a fleet of Gunboats in command of Rear Admiral Porter. I
think that force should take Vicksburg and clear the Mississippi River to
New Orleans and I think they will.
About an hour before I left Memphis I made the
acquaintance of a Son of Loeb Herrnsheim, a brother to the one that
married “Cheuley” von Gundersheim and also Charley Schloss, a brother in
law to Esther. They as well as myself felt most d—n sorry that we dit not
meet before. We met under singular circumstances.
After I had my people in the boat, I walked along the
riverbank and saw a Yehudah and his wife. I remembered the Sabbath and
decided to have a kosher lunch. So, as my friend and his wife came closer,
I said, “Happy Sabbath, dear people,” frightening the gentleman and
probably his wife, being offered “Happy Sabbath” by a man in uniform with
sword, spurs, and so forth and so forth. I asked where one could eat a
kosher lunch. The gentleman said I could go with him, or to Mr. Levy who
was holding a Jewish Boarding house. I went to Levy and found him and
about 30 Jews very surprised when I asked if I could have a Chanukah lunch
(my friend at the river bank told me Sabbath Chanukah). But when I sat at
the table and Levy took a good look at me he said, “I think the face looks
familiar” and when I told him my name he said, “Dear God, a son of Rabbi
Mosche of Abenheim, a Lieutenant Colonel.” I was surprised and discovered
soon that he was a son of Loeb Herrnsheim. Carl Schloss is married to
Levy’s niece. We went to visit him and he was very busy and I promised to
return in the evening and stay overnight but unfortunately the departure
signal was given an hour earlier and I had to miss a pleasure I would have
very much enjoyed and I am convinced it would have been very stimulating
for both of us.
Just now the Signal of danger sounded. I must go and
see what it meant. Supposed Guerillas in the Woods on shore and the whole
fleet anchored. It is awful dark and I do not believe we will make any
demonstrations to night. The Gunboats are plying up and down and I think
they can attend to any thing ordinary for to night.
With this interruption it is getting late and I must
bring my long Epistle to a close. Now Moses let me tell you write often
and do not wait for me, for many times weeks may pass in a campayne like
this that I may not have a chance to write to you, but at any time will it
give me undescribable happiness to hear from you, my more than Brother….
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