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https://micivilwar.com/authors/hogmire-mitchell-h/
Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Frederick Steele , Joseph O. Shelby
DuValls Bluff June 17
th /64
Dear Wife
I have a few moments to spare and will
improve them by answering your lette of
June 7
th You may be assured that it
was perused with the greatest of pleasure
it found me enjoying life as well
as could be expected under circum
stances All of the rest of the boys
are well Edwin received a letter
[chewed]
Mother dated the same as mine
he answered it last night I wrote
3 days ago and I calculate to write to
you as often as once a week and as
much oftener as I can and you do
the same and there will be no mistake
but what it will come all right some
time Jane you will perceive by this
that the communication was cut
off below here on the White River by
Shelby & they captured the Gun boat
No 26 & and concequently there has
not been any mail for us until to
day this being 27
th of June last night
was the first mail that came up
the River in a long time & it fetched
me a letter bearing date June 17 64
and I will drop a reply to it
Now I will give you an idea of our
night Below here on the River the Gun
boat No. 26 was sent down to a small
[chewed] on the River where the Gurilles had
fired into our Transports to clean
them out and arived there just at
night and the Rebs knowing where
she lay run up a battery during the
night and at day break they opened
fire on her shooting through her
machinery & disabling her so they
could not run her off and of course
had to surrender her up to the
Rebs but some of the soldiers jumped
over board and got away Next mor
ning they sent down two other
boats and shelled the Rebs away
from the River and captured one
gun they then sent to Little Rock
for more troops and Steele sent
out an expedition to give Old
Shelby fight and the result was
our men drove them 22 miles
and then for the want of Rations
had to abandon the pursuit and
fall back they having now way to
carry their Rations only in
Haversacks the Rebs followed
them back to the River Harrassing
their rear but doing but little
damage there was but few
Killed on our side and how
many of the Rebs I cant say
We had 3 or 4 killed our Regt
did not go on the expedition
We have to do Provo Guard
Duty two companies have
their Horses Co A and I
and we will have ours before
long I think as soon as they
can run them up the River safe
Jane there is no prospect of our
being paid off verry soon I
want you to send me a coppy
of the note I hold against Jim
Bridges so I can get the pay on
it pay day He says he will pay
it Jane I am going to write to
Aunt Kit tell her for me those
were very good verses & hope
the time will soon come when I
can see them again Milan
is well & on guard to day
Arb is well and all of the boys
but Charley Spencer & he is better
My respects to all MHH
