June the 12 63

Dear Catherine I will write you
a few lines to let you know that we
that we have got to our landing place
last night we had a nice trip down the
river we are now on what is called the
chickesaw Bluffs twelve miles north of
of vicksburg they are fighting all the
all the time at vicksburg it has been
one continual war of cannon ever
since we landed here I could stand
here in camp last night and see
the blaze of the cannon and see
the shells burst at vicksburg the
town is on very high place the
country a round here is very broken
around here sherman drove the rebbles
from here a bout a month a go there
is about thirty cannon here that the
rebbels had to leave some of the balls
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weighs over two hundred lbs but
they are all spiked or bursted we come
down the Miss until we got to
the mouth of the Yazoo river and
then we was eight miles from
vicksburg we run up the river
12 miles to this place and landed
and is getting our things up the hill
to day I dont know how long we
will stay here it looks like a good
chance here but we may come out
Safe yet I have but little to write
write to you this time I have not
had a letter from you for three
weaks and I cant tell the reason
for the rest of the boys gets letters
from solsberry but I guess mine
is on the road our letters will
be old now when you get them
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but I will write every weak
I think Grant will take vicks
burg with what men he has
got at the place we are in his
rear to keep off brag and
John son that is said to be
come ing up in his rear if they
come we will have some thing
to do here me and Bill and
Hen is all in good health and
spirits and ready to do any thing
that we are called on to do
there is a good many soldiers
here and more comeing

Dont be uneasy a bout me
rite often and let me how you
get a long I will have to quit
and mail this or I will be too
late for the mail H Gaston
to Catharine Gaston