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Excellent Vicksburg Campaign Letter

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War-date Autograph Letter Signed by James Mower, 9th Iowa Infantry, who also served with the 25th Iowa Infantry, 4p. folio, Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, May 8, 1863, and reads in part: "...Our whole army has left here except the sick & convalescent of which latter there are a goodly number. Our army are operating about 30 miles below here they have taken Grand Gulf with about 2000 prisoners as part of them are here now and the balance will be in a few days. We have nothing official further but rumor says we have Port Hudson also the railroad running from Vicksburg to Jackson, Mississippi if this be so Vicksburg is doomed & that soon a rumor came in camp this morning that we had bagged 9,000 more prisoners but this I think doubtful. I have not learned whether our Reg has been engaged or not but presume not. Gen. Grant has ordered 30,000 reinforcements from Helena & Memphis this looks as if there was something to do I have not learned our loss but presume it is pretty heavy as our men had to storm several batteries. I took a look at the prisoners this morning they are a stout robust set of fellows. Dressed in butternut style they look shabby by the side of our uniformed soldiers but they fight like devils. They say they do not expect to hold Vicksburg much longer, but they still cling to the hope that the North will divide & thus help them out of their dilemma. They say Vallandigham & his party are their friends and if they can only hold out till that party comes in power they are all right. This is their last forlorn hope & they catch at & cling to it like a drowning man at straw, perhaps it is all for the best it will only give us the chance to whip them more effectively for they are already whipped & they must know it. But the copperheads of the North will have to suffer for this. The soldiers blame them (& I believe justly) for prolonging the war & they swear vengeance when they return this may cause trouble at home but I am in hopes it will pass over, not that I have any sympathy with that class of men but I am tired of war. I believe they are as guilt as the southern rebels & less excusable. It is the general opinion here that when we clear this river the game is up with the Southern Confederacy in fact it is out of the question for them to sustain their armies east of the Miss. River. There is no alternative left them they must disband, they may hold a few strong positions and bother us some time but their doom is sealed the Brand of Cain is upon them. They have forfeited their birthright to liberty, May God have mercy on them. Those who have suffered in this war will not be likely to extend the hand of friendship to the murderers of their neighbors , their brothers & sons. We are now quartered on the plantation of an Ex Governor of this state, 'tis a splendid mansion with all the evidences of wealth & luxury here. He once had all the enjoyments all the comforts that wealth and a free government could bestow now it is laid waste and when we leave here his mansion which has not cost less than 75,000$ will be laid in ashes and where is he if he is not now he soon will be (if alive) a refugee a dispersed and disposable wretch upon whom every honest man will point the finger of scorn even the slave who used to tremble at his nod will laugh him to scorn tis a severe rebuke but it is just 'Whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad' is this not applicable in the present case....I have kept a sharp lookout for our friend Maitin. I have sought him on every battlefield among the dead & wounded. I have looked for him among all the prisoners I have enquired for him on every hand, but as yet have found no track it is uncertain but chance may throw him my way. Once I thought I recognized his features in a swollen black carcass upon the battlefield at Arkansas Post, but upon a close examination I concluded it was not him...." About VG.

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