Dear Brother,

I received a letter from you while we were station at Manchester, Tenn. dated Nov. the 12 and it is the only letter that I have received from home; I know that you write but I surpose your letters are misplaced. I would like very well to have a few lines from home to know how Ma is getting. James Ingles told me that she was mending very fast when he left, I hope however she is well long before this. I have tried every means that I could to get off but it was all in vain, though I have the promise of a furlough now.

We are not station at Vicksburg, Miss. That is, the Genl. Hd Quarters are in the city, the troops are encampt about three miles. We arrived here on the 27 of December and on the 28 we went into entrenchments and were there three days and knights before they were relieved. They fought very bravely. The loss of the 40th was 4 killed and 15 wounded. We only lost one out of Company D. and that was Hamp Gray. He was killed early Sunday morning by a shell. Our Regiment was exposed more than any that was in the engagement. They had to support a battery. They were in a road behind the battery and when they would shoot at the battery if they missed them it would fall over on us. They kept up the fire from 4 o clock in the morning until 3 in the evening. It as a perpetual roar all the time. You could not hear yourself talk. Genl Pembleton says that it was the heaviest cannonading that he ever herd. We were in about 3/4 of a mile of them when the fireing commenced and when it ended we were about 20 steps a part. The enemy's loss was eleven hundred. Our Brigade lost 15 killed and forty wounded. Col. Johnson was wounded slightly in the shoulder and Henry Darnall was sitting playing his jus-harp and a cannon ball hit the fence and knocked a rail cross his back and he rose cursing the yanks. I acted courier for the Genl part of the time and the balls fell around me like hail but I came out safe. I think they have fallen back to Nashville. It is reported here this morning that Genl Bragg has fallen back to Tullahoma after whipping them at Murfreesboro and has shiped all the commisaries back to Chattanooga. The enemy's loss is reported to be thirty thousand. Our loss was great if this report be true. I expect that we will be ordered back to Tenn. soon for they can't never take this place. Our natural line of defence is twenty odd miles long from Warren below to Maddison above the Azoo. We are on the Miss. River and it is the largest river that I ever saw.

We left Reederville, Tenn. the 19 of December and was on the road 8 days but still I did not get tired of riding. We took the cars at Murfreesboro and from there to Chattanooga & from there to Atlanta & from there to West Point and from there to Montgomery, Ala. & from there to Mobile & from there to Jackson, Miss & from there to Vicksburg. I had a very pleasant time. We came through Calhoun on Sunday. I saw old Dick tied in Adairsville but did not see Gran. Genl tole me that they were going to law-over in Atlanta until the Brigade came up and he would let me go back, but he got orders to not stop. I want you to write as soon as you get this. I sent 125.00 dollars by Alvan Chandler and a horse. Let me know if he brought it through. I gave him 5 dollars to pay for the horse and tole him if it was not enought that you would pay hime. I want you to send me my watch the 1st opportunity that you have. Give my love to all. Tell Sis to write and Jim & Sallie also. Nothing more at present. I remains your affection. brother

Henry C. Hunt

As I was in the act of sealing of my letter Genl handed me a letter from Sallie dated Dec. the 13. I am sorry to hear of Ben Black's death. You say that Gabe thinks that he will have to go back in Service. Tell him to stay out as long as possible but if he will have to come back, write to me soon. David Wylie & Hall has fell out and Dave is thinking of quitting the company. They all want me to come to the company if he does, and say that they will give me 3rd Lt place, and you could get it again if you want it. Write and I will see what I can do for you if you want it, but I would try and get on the cars as bagage master or conductor. Let me know if you will have to come. I will not say anything about it until I hear from you.

Tell all the negroes Hody. I want to know what you mean in asking me what I think of my large estate. Please explain your-self in yore next letter.

H. C. Hunt

Direct your letters to

Mr. H. C. Hunt
Vicksburg, Miss.
Care of Genl Barton


Battle of Chickasaw Bayou

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou (December 26-29, 1862) – Also called the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs and Battle of Walnut Hills, this skirmish took place in Warren County, Mississippi under Union Commander Major General William T. Sherman and Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton On December 26th, General Sherman led three Union divisions to approach the Vicksburg defenses from the northeast. Sherman and his troops disembarked at Johnson’s Plantation on the Yazoo River, while a fourth division landed farther upstream on the 27th. That same day, the four divisions of Union troops pushed their lines forward through the swamps toward Walnut Hills, which were strongly defended. On the 28th, several futile attempts were made to get around these defenses.

On December 29th, Sherman ordered a frontal assault which was repulsed with heavy casualties. Sherman then withdrew. This Confederate victory frustrated Grant’s attempts to take Vicksburg by direct approach. Estimated casualties were 1,776 Union and 207 Confederate.

General Sherman then suggested a combined land and naval movement against the Arkansas Post 50 miles up the Arkansas River from its confluence with the Mississippi River, a base from which Confederate gunboats were attacking Union shipping. The Battle of Arkansas Post occurred on January 9-11, 1863, resulting in a Union Victory.

In the meantime, General Ulysses S. Grant spent the the rest of the winter constructing alternative waterways so that troops could be positioned within striking distance of Vicksburg, without requiring a direct approach on the Mississippi River under Confederate guns. Termed “Grant’s Bayou Operations,” these initiatives including canals, dikes, and small dams was unsuccessful and Grant turned his attention to other maneuvers.