The following letter was published in the June 5, 1862 edition of the Roxbury (Mass.) City Gazette, and has been provided for publication by Thomas Hayes.
MAY 26, 1862
From our Reporter.
We have received a letter this morning, dated, "United States Gunboat, Saint Louis, Mississippi River, May, 26. The writer says:-- that he is now in a very dangerous place, within a short distance of Fort Pillow, and that they expect in a few days to commence an attack on the Fort.
The writer further says:-- "Since I sat down to write you these few lines the order was passed to heave up anchor and get ready for action. We are always ready at a minute's notice, keeping steam up all night. The rebels fired shells at us all last night, and all day to-day, without any injury however, though some of them came very near us. Two of the mortar boats had gone down to the point and engaged the forts all the afternoon. Three deserters came aboard the St. Louis that morning, from Jeff Thompson's command, which they said numbered about 500. They said they had plenty to eat in the rebel army, but had not had any pay for seven months. If they had [not] deserted they were to have been reviewed on that day, when they would have got their pay, and a bounty besides. Deserters are coming in like numbers every day." This information can be considered reliable.
Additional newspaper accounts and letters from Massachusetts soldiers, sailors and civilians during this time period can be found at the LETTERS OF THE CIVIL WAR web site.
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