Civil War Letter, Gilbert Bass to James Groves Vernon Parish Louisiana Submitted by Jane Parker McManus Date: July 22, 2012 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Civil War - Letter written from Gilbert Bass to his father, James Groves - The letters of Gilbert Bass are printed as he wrote them; no attempt has been made to correct the spelling. Gilbert spelled phonetically as did most people during this era, possibly indicating a limited education. Many difficult words were correct while simple words were not. [Gilbert Bass was the son of Drewry Bass and Susannah Bell. He was born ca 1836 in St. Landry Parish LA. He married Elizabeth Groves, daughter of James Groves Jr. and Nancy Perkins, ca 1856, and two daughters were born. Gilbert served with the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He joined at Camp Moore LA and was sent to Vicksburg MS. Gilbert was killed in Vicksburg and is probably buried there is mass burials. He wrote many letters describing the war to his wife and father-in-law, and his sisters-in law. His daughters were Nancy (1858) and Annie E. Bass (1860).] April 4, 1862 Mr. James Groves My Dear father, after my respects to you it is with pleasure that I seat my self to let you know that I am well today with exsepttion of my foot. I haven’t been able to drill for two weaks but I am in hopes that those few lines may fine you and family enjoying good health. I haven’t any knews to write to you of any importance. We have some little sickness in camp but none dangerous. They have alittle feaver that is about all the sickness there is. I will say to you what I think of our officers. I am very pleasd of them my self but there is some of the boys that does not like them but I don’t know what it is for I can’t see any thing rong qabout them my self. Now I want you to write to me how my wife and dear little children is agetting along. I know that they do as well if I was with them. I want to know if they say well I should have sent my money back but I did not know how I should get long. Balmorton told me I had better keep it in case that I got sick. I shall be home in five ore sicks months if it is god will that I live that long and then I can bring it with me and I hope that it will do as well as for me to send it unless knowd about tricks that I did. Gave my respects to mother and except same your self and the family. Nothing More so good by Gilbert Bass Direct yours to camp more in the care of Captain Hatch. Vicksburg Miss Camp Norwood July [1862] Mr. James Groves. Dear father after my respects to you it is with pleasure that I seat my self to let you know that I am yet on the land of the living and injoying tolerable good health and I am in hopes that when these fiew [lines] reaches you it may find you and family injoying the same blessings. I have not got any news to write to you of any important. I can say the letter you wrote to lenard [Leonard Sweat] came to hand and I broke it. He was not hear and I was ancious to hear from home and glad I was for I had not heard from [home] since Captin Hatch came back. Lenord is at the Miss. Spring and has been about two months. I got aletter from him aday or two ago and he was alittle on the mend [ill]. [I will] Say to you something about the bombardment that I know about it. They was fighering [firing] for two or three weaks but on the 27 and 28 of June they undertakened either [to] pass up the river or take the place and five [boats] did pass but the last hour and ahalf or two hours it was a continuel roar. I was about amile above town. They killed eight or ten of our men at the battries and one woman intown but we sunk three of there boats and injerd five more. we had another little fight afiew days ago. the Arkansas Ram came down the river and sunk three more and burned two more. they shot severril holes in her but she is now reddy to gave them another fight. Our artilier sunk another one of ther boats and taken ther mail boat and sixety prisoners that was aborde yesterday. I could tell you agrate deal if I was there. Excuse bad writeing and mistakes for I am in ahurry for [I] have to cook rushing to go on pickit. I will write more the nex letter. Gave my respects to the family and kiss mother and the two little babs. Nothing More yours tru son till death Gilbert Bass [Note: Gilbert Bass was the son of Drewry Bass & Susannah Bell from St. Landry Parish. He had married Elizabeth Groves, the daughter of his in- laws James Groves and Mary Nash of Rapides Parish (later Vernon).]