This letter was written by George Orme (1834-1928) of Aurora, Illinois, while serving in Co. H, 124th Illinois Infantry. George mustered into the regiment at Aurora on 10 September 1862 and mustered out on 15 August 1865. Census records inform us that George was a native of Surrey, England and that he emigrated to the US about 1840-41 with his parents, Thomas Orme and Martha Ward. George was married in April 1858 to Minerva H. Miller (1841-1923) in Kane county, Illinois.

After the war, George relocated to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he lived out his days as a farmer.

The 124th Illinois Infantry (a.k.a., the “Excelsior Regiment”) recruited its members from a number of counties, including Henry, Kane, McDonough, Sangamon, Jersey, Adams, Wayne, Cook, Putnam, Pike, Mercer, and Christian. George wrote this letter shortly after the Siege of Vicksburg but his regiment has seen action at Raymond and Champion Hill before digging in at Vicksburg. I found a diary written by another member of Co. H, 124th Illinois that I have posted after George’s letter that will give readers a better idea of the regiment’s activities leading up to the letter. During this period, they were in Logan’s Division and McPherson’s Corps. It was said of them that “they were never driven from a position, and never attempted to take a position and failed.”

This letter was made available by Loren Lindahl for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent. The original has been gifted to the Saunders County Historical Society to be forwarded to the National Battlefield at Vicksburg.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Vicksburg
July 8th 1863

Dear wife,

Here I am jotting down a few lines to you by way of letting you know that I am all right and hope that these [lines] will find you the same. We have got keeping house once more. We have our tents and our cooking utensils so that it begins to look like living once more after being without them for two months and over. I tell you, we know how to appreciate a little comfort.

When I wrote to you last, I was in something of a hurry and did not have time to write many particulars about this place but today I thought I would sit down and give you all the news together—so here it is, on secesh paper right from the City of Vicksburg.

To commence with, we have about 30 thousand prisoners here and such times as we have trading with them, you never seen. Minerva, it almost makes me think that I am up North for you know that when there is any chance for trading, that I am around. Well, the secesh will trade for anything that comes from the North and pay big for it. Most of them have lots of money but it is all secesh. They will give five dollars of their money for one of ours and are glad to get the chance. They will sell anything they have for coffee or Lincoln money. There is more than half of them that says that they will never fight again for we have shown them how they have been humbugged with their leaders and our officers have given them all seperate paroles so that they can go hope if they want to. Their officers wanted them to be paroled in companies so that they could keep them together but the men would not be fooled with them for we had talked the thing over with them and they are bound to go home. They are picking up all the coffee they can get. They will [give] one dollar per pound for it to carry home with them for they say that they have not had any for over a year.

They say that they are much disappointed with us for we use them more like friends than enemies and when they look at the way we live and our clothes and horses and everything that we have, it makes them wonder how their leaders could be such rascals to lie to them in the way they have. I think that we have given Old Secesh a blow this time for we have hurt their cause more by using their men in the way we have than if we had shot every man of them for they will go home and tell their neighbors how we used them and that we are not fighting them to take their rights from them but to protect them in their rights as citizens of the Union. They start for home today.

Now then, my dear, I have given you some of the news about the rebs. Not I [will] say a word about other matters. In the [first] place, I would like it if you could send me some butter when Mr. [Lieut.] Potter comes back. Tell Ma that I never wanted some of make of butter so bad in all my life as I do at the present. We are drawing some soft butter and if we could get a little butter, Oh how good it would go with us. You can’t think how bad it makes me feel every time I think of the trouble you went to in fitting up that box of stuff and then for me to never get a smell of it. Hain’t it provoking to think of it?

I heard from James Newell day before yesterday. He is about three miles from here and he told one of our boys that he saw in town that we would come over as soon as he can to see me. There is strong talk of our being stationed here for guard. I hope it will be so for them there will be some chance for us to get furloughs to come home.

In your letters, you have never said anything about James Miller. I heard about him yesterday. His Captain thought he must be lost or he would have come to his company. I heard from a man that was in Vicksburg at the time that the boats run through that Jim was taken prisoner the next day. He knew him in Aurora three years ago. I am somewhat acquainted with him. It is the man that Old Pat sold the old house to. He is an Irishman. Bill will know who he is. He is going to come back to Aurora as soon as he can get money enough to carry him back. He says that they put him in prison because he would not enlist and he told me that the night before we got to this place, they came in the night and took the last cow he had and killed her and he could not say a word and they wouldn’t even give him secesh money for her. They told him he was a damned federal and their money would not do him any good for they intended to leave shortly and that would be good enough pay for him. Well we have got and I suppose that he will have to feed the folks here for they have nothing to eat and nothing [to] buy with.

I have got a couple of nice rings for you as trophies—one from Champion’s Hill and the other I got here.

Now Kitty, don’t forget to see Potter before he comes back and send my boots for I do need them bad. I must close for supper is ready. So goodbye till next time. Yours truly, — George

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Diary of Charles Henry Snedecker of Aurora who also served in Co. H, 124th Illinois Infantry with George Orme. I’ve included that portion of Charles’ diary from late May to mid-July 1863. Source: Find-A-Grave

MAY, 1863
26th Pleasant weather. Quite extensive Rifle Pits were dug by our troops last night. Canonading and Sharpshooting as usual. No advance today. Mailed letter No. 30.

27th Co. H and two other Co. s from the 124th detailed last night to work on fortifications in front of “Shirleys house” Worked till daybreak and went back to quarters a tired sett. Nothing unusual today. Weather warm and clear.

28th Weather fair. Received letter No. 22 from home. Sent home letter No. 31. Today men are at work throwing up intrenchments in front of our Regt. Co. H detailed to go out to the rear on Picket. Went out 3 or 4 miles on the Bridgeport road. Got to our Post just after sundown. Dust in the road two or three inches deep.

29th Weather fair and warm. Went out and gathered Plums and Blackberries. Plums are very plenty both white and red. In the afternoon we were moved out a mile or so farther and were reinforced by two more companies. Heavy firing in the direction of Vicksburg this morning. Had Plum Sauce and Blackberries and sugar for Supper.

30th Fair and warm. Alarm by the sentinels twice in the night. The reserve called into line both times, and the last time we marched out beyond the outposts to reconnoitre, but not being able to discover any enemy, we marched back and laid down on our Arms. Nothing more occurred to alarm us. Our sentinels said that they saw men with guns moving around. Got some Mulberries and stewed them. We were relieved at 5 P.M. by 5 companies of the 10th Mo. Arrived in camp at 7 o’clock.

31st Sunday. Clear and hot. Was aroused at 2 1/2 o’clock this morning by our Artillery opening fire on the Rebs. It was kept up for an hour a perfect roar after which it gradually ceased. Some cannonading all through the day. The Rebels fired a few shots in return.

JUNE, 1863
1st Clear and hot. Artillery firing every half hour through the night. Very heavy cannonading at 3 A.M. Two more “Parrott Guns” planted in front of our Regt. during the night. Wrote a letter to Mrs. Lennox informing her of her Husbands death. One of McAlisters 24 pound howitzers charged down the hill through our companys shanties, tearing some of them down and scattering things generally, but fortunately without hurting any one. Co. H detailed on Picket.

2nd Clear and warm. Went on Picket at 3 P.M. in the Rifle Pits. The Rebs tried to capture a Battery on our left, but were repulsed. There was a large fire in Vicksburg about midnight. I could distinctly hear the fire bells ringing in the city. I drew a pair of Shoes, 1 pair of socks, a shirt, Hat and Rubber Blanket. Our Artillery played a lively tune on the Rebels about Sundown. The “Lombard Brothers” were here and sang the “Battle Cry of Freedom.”

3rd Still camped on the hill. Weather warm. Cannonading and sharpshooting as usual. Co. H detailed on Picket.

4th Weather warm. Nothing but the usual routine.

5th Warm. A moveable car for sharpshooters was put up last night. It is mounted on wheels and protected by cotton bales. It was put up in front of the Rebel fort. Co. H detailed on Picket.

6th Very oppressive weather. Was quite un-(well) all night and through the day. Wrote letter No. 32.

7th Sunday. Sick with a hard cold. Co. H detailed on Picket at night. Weather hot.

8th Warm again. Our Mortar Boats shelled the city all night. One man in Co. B Killed, and one of Co. H wounded in the leg just at night.

9th Warm. One 9 inch Siege Gun came up today. Our whole Regt. on Picket. Chas. Titsworth of Co. H wounded while on Picket.

10th Rainy. Received letter No. 23 and one from Mother. Not much cannonading, but very lively sharpshooting.

11th Pleasant. One 9 inch Siege Gun mounted and at work battering down “Fort Hill.”

12th Pleasant. The Rebels have thrown a few shells towards our “Big Gun”, but has not hurt any body yet. Got a letter from Bro. George.

13th Clear. Washed my clothes. Our Regt. exchanged their old guns for new Enfield Rifles. The Regt. detailed for sharpshooting and Picket to go in at 6 1/2 A.M. tomorrow and stay on duty 24 hours.

14th Warm. Sunday. “Philips” of Co. C wounded in the face. I was detailed to stand on Picket at night outside the breastworks. The Rebs threw quite a number of 9 inch shells some of which struck very close to our Hospital.

15th Rainy in the morning pleasant the rest of the day. Wrote a letter to Bro. George. Co. H to go on fatigue duty tomorrow at 4 A.M.

16th Pleasant. Co. H aroused at 3A.M. to go for fatigue duty on the trench leading to the Rebel Fort. In the afternoon they threw two “Hand Grenades” at us from the Fort. They fell short 50 feet and exploded doing no damage. We are now within 100 feet of the Fort.

17th Fair. Several 9 inch shells bursted over our camp today. One piece weighing two or three pounds struck about 5 feet from where I was sitting. No one was struck by them. Very heavy cannonading part of the day. I had a billious attack.

18th A large fire in the city last night. The Rebs opened a gun on our right from behind a cotton Fort. Our Gunners shelled them and set their fort on fire. Got letter No. 24.

19th Weather warm. Wrote letter No.23 (33) and posted it. Got some canebrakes and make a bed. Regt. ordered to be ready for sharpshooting tomorrow morning.

20th Regt. ordered into line at 4 A.M. and marched into the intrenchments. Artillery commenced firing at the same time all along the line and continued without intermission till 10 A.M. We were kept in the trench till near noon, when we were put on duty sharpshooting. A Squad of men at work digging into the side of the Fort. One of the 45 Ills. shot dead on the top of the Fort, while trying to shoot inside. One of Co. Es men shot through both thighs accidentally by our own sharpshooters.

21st Sunday. Carpenter and myself on Picket last night in the extreme advance. Hand Grenades were thrown at us, from the Fort. We were relieved about 5 A.M. by the 23d Ind. Quite a number of shot & shell was thrown into our camp today, but no one was hurt. Wrote a letter to Mother and mailed it. Weather warm.

22nd Fair. Last night a bullet passed through Carpenters Rubber Blanket and G. Ormes boot they were on the top of our shanty. Very rapid sharpshooting on our right this morning. The Rebs fired by volleys. I was detailed to go after Lumber for Hospital Bunks, but could not get any inside of the Picket lines. Saw the remains of a large rebel camp.

23rd Detailed as Guard to the Paymaster. We received two months pay, up to May 1st. The Rebs fired several solid shot into our camp today. One of which cut the ridge pole of Lieut. Howards tent in two, and smashed up Co. Hs oven. Nobody hurt.

24th Rainy last night. There was quite a sharp engagement on our left between 10 and 12 last night. It lasted over an hour. Major Pattison paid me $8.35 for my subsistence money. Sent $26.00 by Express to my Wife in New Haven. The 124th Regt. are out sharpshooting and on Picket. Our Gunboats and Mortar-boats are shelling the town pretty lively.

25th Warm. Wrote letter No. 34. Our Co. stood Picket last night in the hole that was dug into the Fort. Between 3 and 4 P.M. we were ordered into the trenches, soon after which the Fort blew up making a breach in one end of it. The 45th Ills. advanced and took possession of the outside of the breach and opened a brisk fire on the rebels. They were relieved after two hours or more by the 31st Ills. and they by others so that a continual fire was kept up all night. The Lieut. Col. of the 45(th) was badly wounded and the Major was killed. The Lieut. Col. of the 31st was severely wounded in the side and arm by a Hand Grenade. The 124th went to Quarters and slept on Arms.

26th Had a good rest. Got up at daylight and got Breakfast. Co.s I and H ordered to the breach about 7 A.M. and staid one hour firing over the bank into the Fort and rifle pits as fast as we could load. One of the 45th Ills. was killed and one of Co. I 124th badly wounded while we were out this time. From this time till near night the 124th were fighting in the breach by reliefs. Near sundown we were ordered to fall back to the Rifle Pits. The Rebels threw Hand Grenades among us killing some and wounding a great many of our Regt. quite a number of whom were badly mangled. The miners were at work all day digging another mine to blow it up again. We were relieved at night by the 3d Brigade. 

27th Warm. Our Regt. laid in camp today and rested. The Boys were pretty well tired out. I was unwell with a fever. Our troops did not fight in the breach today as the position could be held just as well from the rifle Pits. Hand Grenades were thrown both by our men and the rebs. In yesterdays action our Regt. lost 49 in killed and wounded. Two were killed outright and two have since died and there are several more that will probably die soon. Co. H had 7 wounded most of them slightly. None killed.

28th Sunday. Very warm. Nothing unusual going on today. Reported sick.

29th Warm. Lieut. Potter and David Smith got furloughs and started for the river this morning. Got letter No. 25 from my Wife. Had my hair cut.

30th Co. mustered for pay. Wrote letter No. 35. The 124th detailed for Picket and sharp shooting. Our Engineer Corps have made a wooden Mortar for throwing hand Grenades. It does the work first rate.

JULY, 1863
1st Last night the Rebels rolled a gunpowder keg with a 13 inch shell in the middle of it and the balance of the keg filled with powder over the parapet and into the breach. No one was there at the time so that it did no damage, but the explosion was terrific making the ground tremble in our camp. About noon today the mine being ready was exploded, throwing high into the air an immense body of dirt, Timbers &c. Several men Rebs were blown up. Three Reb soldiers and three negroes that were digging for our powder were thrown outside of the fort and landed near our works, The three white men and two of the negroes died. The other negro was more scared than hurt. He said that he went up into the air about two miles. The Rebels were seen very busy in digging immediately after the explosion, It was thought that they were digging out those that were buried up. Our Regt. occupied the Rifle Pits ready for action in case of an emergency. Our Artillery poured into the fort a perfect storm of Shell, Grape, and Canister. We were relieved about 6 P.M. Weather very warm.

2nd Weather warm. Detailed for fatigue to remove timbers from the breach in the Fort preparatory to starting another mine. Saw one of the little “Wooden Mortars” at work throwing 12 pound shell into the Fort. It works nicely. It takes but an ounce and a half of powder for a charge. There is quite sharp firing on our left. The Rebs are firing by Volleys.

3rd The Rebels raised a flag of truce at 8 A.M. Firing ceased till between two and three P.M. when it was resumed for an hour or so, when the Rebs again raised the white flag and firing again ceased. Guards were placed between the two Armies by both sides. They were in some places but a few feet apart. I saw a Union and a Secesh soldier drilling each other on the parapet of the fort. The Generals of both armies held a conference under the shade of an Oak tree between the two lines.

4th Independence day. The most quiet fourth of July that I ever knew. Not a gun was fired all through the night. 6 O.clock A.M. The Generals are now together under the “Oak tree” talking up the terms of the surrender of Vicksburg. 7 A.M. Word has come that Vicksburg is ours and that we are to march in at 10A.M. and take possession of the city. A good enough fourth of July celebration for us. I was detailed for Guard duty on the line of Rebel Rifle Pits. Our troops marched in at noon. The Band struck up “Yankee Doodle” as they passed through the Fort. The Rebels have holes and caves dug in the ground in every direction to protect themselves against our shells. The Rebs are starved out and our Boys are giving them Hard Bread and Bacon which they thankfully receive and eat as if they was hungry. They had to eat mule meat and were living on quarter rations. Our sharpshooters have riddled their sandbags pretty thoroughly.

5th Sunday. All quiet through the day till near night, when the captured Arms were fired off by a detail made for that purpose. A caisson was blown up accidentally by some men throwing cartridges into the fire. No one was hurt by it. The Prisoners are the most of them very friendly with our Boys, mixing in with them and eating at our tents, talking, exchanging canteens, and trading generally. They are buying a good deal of coffee which is a great treat to them, as they got none in the Army. Our tents and camp equipage that was left at “Millikens Bend” on the 25th of April came up today. I was not relieved from guard till near 8 o’clock P M. Our Govt. issued rations to the prisoners today. Weather very warm.

6th Went on fatigue duty. A Rebel Lieutenant ate breakfast with us. Wrote letter No. 36 to my Wife. Took a stroll along the fortifications on our right. Saw the effect of some of our shots on the Rebel Artillery. I saw one Parrott Gun with three feet of the muzzle knocked off and a number of wheels disabled.

7th Lying around camp and fixing up the tent. Got some Confederate money and sent part of it home. A few citizens came into town today.

8th Detailed on fatigue to load the captured Arms on board the “Metropolitan” 100, 000 stand of Arms are estimated to have been captured here. Saw the “Lady Bowen” a 10 pound Parrott Gun on the Boat. This was a “pet” with the Rebs. Took a walk along the River and saw two of the “Big Guns.” Also saw our Gunboat “Cincinnati” which was sunk by the Rebs. Nearly every house in the city has the mark of one or more of our shells.

9th On fatigue this morning. Detailed for Picket at night. Our Regt. had Dress Parade this afternoon. Went into a tent with Stickel and put up a bunk in it.

10th The Paroled prisoners are going out in squads on their own hook. They appear to be well pleased at the prospect of going home. Weather very warm. Sick today. Some of them were caught carrying powder out with them and now they all have to be searched.

11th The Rebs commenced marching out in a body early this morning, but as they had to be searched they did not get out till afternoon. I found a stocking leg with about a pound of powder tied up in it by one of the Rebs. He had thrown it out to prevent having it found on his person. It is reported that Pemberton sunk 1500 stand of Arms in the River after the surrender.

12th Sunday. Another large body of Rebs marching out this morning. It is reported that all the Negroes are sent back, they not being considered as “Private Property.”

13th It is said that many of the paroled prisoners have come back inside of the lines to take the oath of allegiance. Heavy details are made from our Brigade to fill up the trenches that we dug during the siege. Our Boys are all on duty every day either fatigue or Picket. Weather warm.