Willy died Oct. 3rd 1863 in Memphis [illegible]
HEAD. QU. 15th. ARMY CORPS. CAMP ON WALNUT HILL,
JUNE 21-1863
[1863/06/21]
DEAR WILLY -
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I GOT YOUR LETTER BY THE REV'D MR. CARRIER, PRIEST, WHO CAME HERE FROM SOUTH BEND, AND TOLD ME ALL ABOUT YOU AND MINNIE, TOMMY EWING AND ELLY. OF COURSE I WAS VERY GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU BY ONE WHO HAD COME STRAIGHT FROM YOU.
MAMA TELLS ME THAT SHE WILL BE AT YOUR EXAMINATIONS ON THE 28th. AND THAT AS SOON AS IT IS OVER SHE WILL TAKE YOU ALL HOME TO LANCASTER. INDEED WOULD I LIKE TO MEET YOU ALL THERE, BUT YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH NOW TO KNOW THAT I MUST BE HERE WITH THE ARMY, WHICH IS BESIEGING THE CITY OF VICKSBURG.
WE HAVE HAD MANY BATTLES, AND YESTERDAY WE AGAIN FIRED NEARLY TWENTY THOUSAND CANNON BALLS INTO THE CITY.
VICKSBURG IS ON A HIGH HILL OVERLOOKING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, WITH BATTERIES SO CONSTRUCTED THAT ANY BOAT WHICH APPROACHES WILL BE SHOT INTO AND SUNK.
ON THE HIGH GROUND BACK OF THE CITY IS A FORT ABOUT 8 MILES LONG, AND THE TREES ARE CUT DOWN AND GROUND CLEARED SO THAT THE ENEMY CAN SHOOT OUR MEN IF THEY COME WITHIN RANGE OF THEIR MUSKETS, WHILST THEY ARE CONCEALED BY A WALL OF DIRT PILED UP IN THEIR FRONT.
SOME DAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS. WE FIRST TRIED TO MOVE FAST OVER THIS GROUND AND TO CLIMB INSIDE THEIR WALL, BUT THEY KILLED SO MANY OF OUR MEN THAT THE REST STOPPED AND GOT BEHIND A HILL. SINCE THAT TIME WE ARE DIGGING DITCHES SO THAT MEN CAN WALK IN THEM WITHOUT BEING SEEN AND FIRED AT. THESE DITCHES CAN ONLY BE DUG AT NIGHT, BUT I HAVE ONE FINISHED RIGHT UP TO THE ENEMY'S WALL, AND WE ARE WORKING NIGHT AND DAY TO MAKE MANY OTHERS, SO THAT WHEN WE NEXT ATTACK, WE EXPECT TO GET INSIDE VICKSBURG, WHEN WE MUST HAVE ANOTHER GREAT BATTLE,
MAYBE THEIR PROVISIONS WILL GIVE OUT, FOR NO PERSON CAN GET OUT OR IN VICKSBURG WITHOUT OUR CONSENT, AND IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO EAT, THEY WILL STARVE OR GIVE UP.
I HAVE FIVE HORSES. MY LITTLE MARE, DOLLY, IS A RACE MARE, AND CAN RUN VERY FAST. ABNER IS A LARGE BAY HORSE, VERY STRONG AND IS GENERALLY RIDDEN BY MY ORDERLY, BOWYN. SAM IS THE HORSE I GENERALLY RIDE WHEN THERE IS FIGHTING. HE IS NOT AFRAID OF SHOT & SHELLS, OR THE SOUND OF MUSKETS & CANNON, BUT DOLLY IS - SHE IS A LITTLE COWARD. THEN I HAVE TWO OTHER HORSES WITHOUT PARTICULAR NAMES. A SORRELL & BAY. I HAVE A BLACK BOY WHO USED TO BE A SLAVE THAT I HIRE TO TAKE CARE OF MY HORSES. HIS NAME IS CURTIS, AND HE AND THE HORSES ARE AS FAT AS THEY CAN BE. HE TAKES GOOD CARE OF THE HORSES AND SLEEPS WITH THEM. WE HAVE NO STABLES, BUT ALL LIVE OUT DOORS.
I SLEEP IN A TENT AND MY STAFF OFFICERS ARE NEAR ME, AND THE 13th. REGULARS ARE CAMPED CLOSE BY. A SENTINAL WALKS BEFORE MY TENT DAY AND NIGHT AND THE FLAG OF THE 13th., RIDDLED WITH BALLS, THE SAME THAT UNCLE CHARLEY CARRIED IN THE BATTLE OF MAY 19, IS BEFORE MY TENT. I WISH YOU COULD SEE IT FOR A MINUTE, BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR CHILDREN TO BE HERE, AS THE DANGER IS TOO GREAT. THERE IS MORE OR LESS FIGHTING ALL THE TIME, AND BULLETS ARE WHISTLING IN EVERY DIRECTION.
MY ARMY IS ON THE NORTH FRONT OF VICKSBURG, ABOUT TWO MILES LONG, AND I RIDE ALONG IT EVERY DAY, BUT TO GO UP NEARER, HAVE TO GET OFF AND GO ON FOOT THROUGH THE DITCHES WITH BULLETS CLIPPING ONLY A FEW INCHES ABOVE MY HEAD ALL THE TIME, BUT WE NOW UNDERSTAND THE POINTS OF DANGER. THE GROUND IS VERY BROKEN, THE HILLS STEEP, AND HOLLOWS DARK AND FILLED WITH CANE BRAKE, THE SAME KIND OF CANE THE BOYS USE FOR FISHING.
IT OCCURED TO ME YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FISHING POLE FROM THE BATTLE FIELD, SO I HAD ABOUT A DOZEN CUT AND PUT UP NICELY AND SENT TO LANCASTER FOR YOU. GIVE ONE TO TOM SHERMAN, ONE TO TOMMY EWING, AND THE REST DISTRIBUTE AMONG YOUR FRIENDS AND TELL THEM THAT THEY WERE GATHERED CLOSE UP TO VICKSBURG, RIGHT ON A BATTLE FIELD ON WHICH THOUSANDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED, AND THOUSANDS MORE WILL BE.
EVERY CANE HAS VIBRATED TO THE SOUND OF NEAR FIFTY THOUSAND CANNON BALLS FIRED WITH INTENT TO KILL, AND IT MAY BE THAT MORE THAN ONE POOR FELLOW HAS CRAWLED TO THE SHADE OF THE LEAVES TO DIE. EACH ONE IS THEREFORE A PRECIOUS MEMENTO. I FELT YOU WOULD PREFER THEM TO ANY BOOK OR TOY BOUGHT WITH MONEY.
YOU MUST CONTINUE TO WRITE TO ME AND TELL ME EVERYTHING. HOW TALL IN FEET & INCHES, HOW HEAVY. CAN YOU SIDE SWIM. HOW MANY FEET & INCHES CAN YOU JUMP. EVERYTHING-
OF ME YOU WILL ALWAYS HEAR MUCH THAT IS BAD, AND MUCH THAT IS GOOD. THE WORLD IS FULL OF GOOD AND BAD MEN AND THEY HAVE THEIR REASONS TO PRAISE OR BLAME OTHERS. BUT YOU AND MY CHILDREN WILL FEEL AND KNOW THAT I AM ALWAYS GOOD TO THEM, FOR THEY ARE GROWING UP TO FILL STATIONS HIGHER AND BETTER THAN ANY I NOW FILL AND MUST BE PREPARED.
MY LOVE TO SISTER ANGELA AND YOUR TEACHERS.
YR. AFFECTIONATE FATHER (SIGNED)
W. T. SHERMAN
[WTS]