Dated “Milliken’s Bend Louisiana / April 3^rd 1863.” Addressed to “Sister Allie.”8 pp. in ink on lined paper, 5” x 8. Exhibits fold-marks & one minor splotch on page 1. Else VG.

Fielding D. Phillips was a resident of Greenville, IL, mustered as Sergeant into Co. “F”, 130^th IL Infantry, 8/7/1862. He was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant (5/22/1863), 1^st Lieut. (6/14/1863) (not mustered), and Captain (5/11/1864) (not mustered). He mustered out, 1/25 1865. His unit, the 130^th Illinois, was a western unit serving primarily with the 13^th and 19^th Army Corps. It was engaged at Champion’s Hill, Big Black and the Siege of Vicksburg, as well as the Siege of Jackson, the Red River Campaign and the Battle Sabine Pass (where most of the regiment was captured), and later the Siege of Mobile and Spanish Fort. During service it lost 20 men killed and 157 by disease for a total of 177.

This lengthy letter provides an interesting account of life in Gen. McClernand’s 13^th Corps in the weeks just prior to the Siege of Vicksburg. Text:

“…We are now camped about 18 miles above Vicksburg at a large bend in the river call Millikens bend. We are 70 miles below Lake Providence the place where I last wrote home. We are camped vary pretty place just behind the lvy and one of the fine plantations that  abound in this State. The owner of it runs away and Gen. McClernand occupies his fine hous for his Head Quarters. Whitch is only about two yards from our camp.

We are in the 2^nd Brigade 10^th division 13^th Army Corps, our brigade is commanded Colonel Landrum. Gen. A.J. smith is our Division Commander and McClernand commands the Army. We begin to see regular soldiering now. Yesterday we had to send out a pickett and a forage train and the rest of us were ordered to report with a day’s rations aboard the boats and they said we were going down to ducks point to help build a fort and to work on the canal but we had the fun of laying on the river bank very near a half a day and then coming back to quarters. The same thing was repeated this morning. Yesterday there about ten thousand men went to Richmond a town about 15 miles from here. They expect to have a little brush out that way. Last Wednesday Major Ried  took command of three companys of our Regiment and went out on a Scout we heard from them the same day they left have not heard from them since. The major sent his horse back being unable to take it any further on account of the watter. They had to cross a Bayou (as rather a lake) in skiffs and yawls and canoes. I expect they are having a good time. I would like to be alon g with them .

Yesterday there was a forage train went out about eight miles . There was 4 teams and 15 men from our regiment. Alas they say it is no use of trying to starve the South. They say there is not a plantation but what has two or three thousand bushels of corn on land one field of about one thousand acres that is not gathered yet, and they have cattle and other stock. Thrtr was one place they had 12 cows and calfs. They sold better at .75 cents a pound an buttermilk at .10 cents quart. This is the way they charge down here. They find out the amount of a fellows pile and take it all. We hare having very warm weather now we can almost see things grow. Flowers of vevery description are out and everything has a lively look. The greass is about 6” high and the woods are quite green. I just wish you could be down here a while and see this country and this great Army of the Mississippi . The camp extends for about 18 miles along the river here. A continual line of tends and they extend some ways out from the river.

I don’t know how many there are here. I have seen 50,000 and I have seen 1/4thpart of them I guess. When we were out the morning there was a line a mile long. I don’t know how many regiments there was but when we were all formed in line I know we made considerably of a show and not near all the regiments in sight of us were out. I tell you looks splendid to see a whole army in motion. It is grand. Last night I went out into the Levy where we could see over the camps and I think it was as pretty sight as I ever saw. On one side of us the white tents seemed to nestle down in the Valley and you could see the white specks as far as the eye could reach. On the other side twenty steamers were filing there way up the River loaded with troops bound for (I don’t know where but the general supposition is Gage pass. I seems like a sin almost to destroy as we are such a country as this but then I believe it is all right for we ought to use every power to put down this rebellion.

Since I commenced writing, the scouting party has returned. They had a grand time. They traveled 15 or 20 miles in shifs  flatboats and yawls. They went about 50 miles and have come back a tired dirty set but still in good humor. They brought in about 15 darkeys. Some of them are going back again, though they say to get their families. The health of our regiment is better now that it has been for some time. We have none very sick with us but some slight sickness which does not amount to much. The boys are all in good spirits & feel “Bully” (so they say).

But it may not continue for so long. They bury here on the levy. There is graves all along it. On one side & the other is used for a road. Every grave is marked with a board with the name of the soldier and his company and regiment unit. There is some graves right in our camp between the officer’s tents. I seen Lieut. Reig (?) today and Hillary Buckmaster. They are both well. Andie is on detached service with the ____Corps and his commission has come on as Captain of the company to which he belongs.

It has been a long time since I have received a letter from home. The last one I got was the Major Reid brought and that has been several  weeks. Now write soon and a good long letter…Your brother Fielding.”

Superb letter on the activities of the 130^th Illinois and Gen. McClernand’s 13^th Army Corps on the eve of the Siege of Vicksburg. In protective sleeve, accompanied by a brief amount of research material, and a handwritten transcription. [JP]  [ph:L]

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