DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Laura Gibson's correspondence to her mother, June-August 1863

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Laura Gibson's correspondence to her mother, June-August 1863

02_1863-06-20 Page 02

in the middle of the river for several hours on account of the storm and darkness - The boat we were on was very large and then came to lash it to a ponderous Gun boat it made an imposing affair - and a fair mark for the rebels - but they did not trouble us.  At Lake Providence I met Genl. Reid he came on the boat.  He gave me a cordial invite to come off the boat and make him a visit of a few days at his Hd Quarters, but I declined.  On Tuesday at 4 o clock we arrived at Chickasaw Bayou - 12 miles up the Yazoo - and only 6 miles from Will as Genl. Reid told me.  Capt. Brown of Genl. Ords staff kindly volunteered to let Will know of my arrival and that night at 12 o clock he got to Wills tent, went in and shook him out of his bunk in a great hurry telling him there was a patient wanted him - that it was a Lady just arrived on the Luminary  He was very much surprised of course - for he had not had a line from me for several days and any intimation of my having started, and he was on his horse at day light next morning and on his way to the Yazoo to see who it might be.  In the mean time Tuesday night one of the Paymasters (they had all left the boat & taken possession of another boat for their Head Qr.) came over & invited us to go down to Vicksburg to see the mortar boat shell the place - of course we accepted - and after supper they brought their steamer up to our boat took us on board

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in the middle of the river for several hours on account of the storm and darkness - The boat we were on was very large and then came to lash it to a ponderous Gun boat it made an imposing affair - and a fair mark for the rebels - but they did not trouble us. At Lake Providence I met Genl. Reid he came on the boat. He gave me a cordial invite to come off the boat and make him a visit of a few days at his Hd Quarters, but I declined. On Tuesday at 4 o clock we arrived at Chickasaw Bayou - 12 miles up the Yazoo - and only 6 miles from Will as Genl. Reid told me. Capt. Brown of Genl. Ords staff kindly volunteered to let Will know of my arrival and that night at 12 o clock he got to Wills tent, went in and shook him out of his bunk in a great hurry telling him there was a patient wanted him - that it was a Lady just arrived on the Luminary He was very much surprised of course - for he had not had a line from me for several days and any intimation of my having started, and he was on his horse at day light next morning and on his way to the Yazoo to see who it might be. In the mean time Tuesday night one of the Paymasters (they had all left the boat & taken possession of another boat for their Head Qr.) came over & invited us to go down to Vicksburg to see the mortar boat shell the place - of course we accepted - and after supper they brought their steamer up to our boat took us on board