Civil War Letter, Gilbert Bass to Elizabeth Groves Bass 
Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Jane Parker McManus
Date: July 22, 2012

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Civil War - Letter written from Gilbert Bass to his wife, Elizabeth Groves Bass -  
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).]

Vicksburg Miss. 
March 26, 186-

My Dear beloved wife.  After my respects to you it is with the greatest 
of pleasure that I this day seat my self to let you no that I received 
the letter that you wrote to me but it was almost assame as no letter 
for I would give asent for aletter after somebody else has red it.  
Hearafter when you write aletter and put it in anybodyes letter always 
seal it or don’t write for I am a man that always wants to brake every 
thing that belongs to me. But I hopt that this letter that leaves me to 
day may reach you and my dear little children well and the rest of the 
familey also as it leaves me well and fat as a buck thank the Lord. I 
have got some good news to write to you. Listen yesterday morning there 
was two of the yanky gunboats tried to pass our battereys but our brave 
galent boys who stood at them did some good shotting. The first one that 
was about ahalf a mile ahead was suppose to be asteam boat will [well] 
partected with cotton or iron but our batterys fighered so she floated 
down hear the Lousaner [Louisiana] shoer when the other that was sed to 
be one of there bes iron clad gunboats with a full head of steam making 
for to help her when our brave boys plared aball through her and in to 
the boler [boiler] which beyond adoubt many to was scalded to death when 
she took figher and sunk. And the shouting that was give to see her sink 
I stood and seen many aman swimming for his life. There is none say so 
about this but I do for I seen it my self and you may be shure that I 
was glad to see her gounder [grounded] and I think that every one that 
passes from this out will go under for we have got agune that was put up 
afiew days ago to is called a windsplitter and I think that she will 
sink all the boats that the yankys has got. I wish that every one that 
they have got would come down this morning for I am tighered of wating 
for I had assoon bed ded almost as to have to stay hear always. For some 
times it seames to me like the ware will never end but I hope that the 
day is clost at hand when the word will bee you can all go home peace is 
made and I think that will be between now and next fall. If you get this 
letter before Pen [Penderson Groves] leaves home tell him to come by for 
I would the best in the world to see him and talke with him awile. Well 
you wrote to me to send you some invelops. I will send you some the 
first time I have any oppertuny for I don’t think it is any use to send 
them by mail. You wrote to me that your father [James Groves Jr.] had to 
report himself. You did not say for what. You did not say whether he had 
to leave home or not but I hope not for I don’t know what you all would 
do if he was to have to leave. Well this is about all that I have to 
write this time. You must excuse mistakes for I am in ahurry. Gave my 
respects to the familey and receive them your self. Also kiss poor 
little Nana and Anna for me. Those lines for me for you are too far off 
for me to kiss. Good by my dear wife.

Gilbert Bass