My Dear Wife
The Band have just ben Playing a lively Tune and the men of the different Rigt have ben cheering this morning. the reason for it is Gen Banks has sent word round that Vixburg [sic] has surrended. the report is that it Surrended on the 4th of July. I hope that the report will prove trew it is said that a Gun Boat came down from there and brought the news. it puts the pluck into our men it is better than a Dose of Epsom Salts for the sick. This is the most important news that we herd as that I have to write. I presume you have herd of it before this time and of corse it will be not be [sic] news to you. I though [sic] I must shout it it was so chering to us my Health is vary good and I am in hopes that we shall be able to get inside of the Fortifications so that the men will have rest but from presant appeareances I think it will be severl days before the attempt is made. There has just commenced a heavy cannonade there is a constant Rattle of Guns and the bursting of Shells. what it means I dont know. Gen B has had the sappers + miners to work ever since the last Fight diging approaches to thier works theas are made by diging in a zig zag form or by turning at short angles in the room of diging in a straght line in this form VVVVVV\ so that we can approach their works without danger from thier Guns. it is this that makes me think that it will be severl days before the attact will be made Comp B were so near to them yesterday that thay could could [sic, second "could" on new page] talk with them which thay did by cracking jokes at each other. I trust that it will be so arrenged that the mens lives + limbs may be saved I have herd that The firring is a Salut in honor of the fall of Vixburg [sic] it said that Grant has taken 27000 Prisonors + 180 pieces of cannon. The Steward has ben cutting my Hair and trimming my Whiskers and thay all say that it has improved my looks vary much I told Mr Gould [Austin K. Gould, pvt., Co. B] the other day that we looked more like Bears than like men and if we did not get trimed up I did not belive that our wifes would own us he thought that his wife would own him no matter how bad he looked What do you think about it. Mr Eaton [Abel Eaton, musician, Co. B] is here he has got a very bad leg. I belive that I spoke of it in my last letter the score [probably means sore, which he spelled "soer" in the previous letter] is the same as the rest of have only he poleticed his and made 2 large scores. the fact is the old man [Abel Eaton was 57 at enlistment!] is all plaid out the Dr says that he shall send him to the Hospt the first chanch Only one month from to day the Rigt will be relived of duty and sent Home Providing P. Hudson is taken in the mean time
Tuesday July 8 [July 8, 1863 was a Wednesday]
As I have a few spare moments I will improve them by writting to you. I will give you a history of my morning Work I got [up (presumably)] at 4 A.M. and swep the off [sic] cround off clean round our establishment and set our things to rights by that I was ready for breakfast after which I took care of Mr Eaton I then went down to whare Comp B are encamped on my way back I cut a lot of small cane. of wich I made out of the leaves a bed for my pearsonal use. out of the stocks I made a broom. then I went to 2 or 3 suttlers to see if I could get some Pater [saltpeter ?, perhaps for medical purposes?] for Mr Eaton but was not succesfull so you see that I have ben bussey untill now 10 oclock A.M. Now for the news I am in hopes to have the privilage of writting before I close this that Port Hudson has surrenderd for thay have had a Flag of Truce out evercince 4 4 [sic] oclock and it is said that thay are making arrengements to surrender at 12 M if thay can be sattisfied that Vixburg has surrenderd. now if this this [sic] proves trew I shall ecspect to see the inside of thire works soon. large numbers of our men have ben up and talked with the Rebels. thay treated our men to corn cake and corn Beer. thay seemed to be vary Freandly. There is a goodeal of anziety to get informasion as to the result. I must tell you about our coullard cook. we have ben living in good stile for the last few days. as we were all out of money we borrowed some and bought some Flower + Dried Apple the cook manufacterd Apple Turne overs and sold them 2 for 15cts so we have money to buye sugar + flower or anything elce that we nead and can get so you see we turn our Nigger [Silas Browning's word, not mine] cook to good advanthage. now how should you like to have me bring Home with me a cook to help you there is plenty of them here I think i had not better write much more till after we get the result of deliberations in relation to the surrender of the Fort There is every apperance of a shower there is havey Thunder over Port Hudson or rather in that Direction. it is now said that thay have surrenderd and that thay are going to stack there arms at 5 oclock.
Port Hudson is Ours thay have surrenderd without any more Fighting how thankful we should be. I tell you that I feel like rejouising for I exspected there would be a good many lives lost before thay would give up
July 9th
I exspect to be vary bussey to day I want to go and see the rebel works this morning and we exspect to move as the Rigt have gon down now to Banks Head Quaters so that I cannot write much more this morning. I am well with the exception of 2 or 3 sores on my feet My love to all I will write again the first oppitunity this will cure a large number of the sick that are left behind so that I think we shall [be ?] qute [quite?] a Rigt by the time we get ready to come Home. we are exspecting a mail just as soon as there is a boat comes up. the Rebs have got a boat Battery between hear + N. Orleans to that it troubles our Boats to get by I shall exspect 2 letters from you by this mail. good by for this time my best love
S.W. Browning
Compiled by Walter G. Blenderman;