---------- From: THEDUCKI@aol.com Sent: Saturday, June 21, 1997 3:02 PM To: CUMBERLAND-RIVER@rootsweb.com; KYLAUREL-L@rootsweb.com Cc: CATFAN2020@aol.com Subject: JONES, Evan, Even, Iven, CIVIL WAR Cousins, This letter was written to my great-grandfather, Even Jones, b. 1797, a/k/a Evan! and comes to you courtesy of Bev Chandler, my daughter. "January 29th, 1863, Camp opposite of Yazoo River, Louisiana Dear Uncle, This evening I seat myself to inform you that I am well at present, and sincerely hope when these few lines reach your hand they will find you all well. I have nothing of special interest to write at present. Our Regiment is in bad health. At present it reports about one hundred men able for duty. As I have nothing interesting to write I don't think I can do anything more than give you a sketch of our trip since we left Memphis, Tennessee. We left Memphis on the 20th day of Dec., and went to Vicksburg. We reached Vicksburg on the 26th and skirmished all day Friday and Saturday. Sunday morning a general engagement came up. We were ordered in line of battle and fired on the Rebels. The fire was kept up about one hour when we were ordered to charge the Rebels' cannon. We did it in double quick. There were reports by the heavy of the Rebel artillery. We were ordered to fall to the ground to save ourselves. You may rest assured that ordered was obeyed. I think I lay as close to the ground as ever a squirrel did to a limb. We stayed seven days with them, though failed in taking Vicksburg. We then went on the boats and went back up the river to the mouth of the Arkansas River to a place called Post Arkansas and attacked the Rebels on Saturday morning, and Sunday at 9 o'clock p.m., the Rebels surrendered the fort. Eight thousand prisoners, ten thousand stand of arms, one thousand head of horses and mules, one hundred wagons, a large quantity of commissary stores and camp equipage. We then came back down the river to where we are yet in ten miles of Vicksburg. Our men are cutting a channel and turning the living Vicksburg 10 miles to the left. The news here is that the Rebels are vacating Vicksburg, but whether it is so or not I cannot say. I don't know how long we will stay here nor where we will go when we leave. I want you to write me as soon as you get this letter, and when you write, direct your letter to Memphis, Tennessee. So no more at present, but still remain your best friend. Iven Jones to Iven Jones (Stationery has a picture of General Halleck) I have corrected spelling, added punctuation, etc., to make this a quick read. I believe this to be Evan Jones, son of Darling Jones and Rachel Stanfield. This would be the Evan who married Barbara Sasser. He seems to be the only one in my data base who is the right age to have served in the Civil War, and who is also Even Jones' nephew. I'd welcome your thoughts. Evan Jones was listed in Margie's list of the 7th KY Infantry. Shirley Martin Chandler