A. Achen letter and translation

Dr. A. Achen Camp before Vicksburg April 25th, 1863. Day

[hand drawn map of Vicksburg and surround area]

OMAHA'S WELCOME TO THE WORLD HOTEL FONTENELLE - OMAHA OPERATED BY EPPLEY HOTELS CO.

Dear Jack:

The Attached translation is as nearly correct as possible.

Since it was hard to translate direct I had to rewrite it in German & then I missed about 6 words that I could not make out.

I you want a German Copy I can type it when I get back

Your Herman

OMAHA'S WELCOME TO THE WORLD HOTEL FONTENELLE - OMAHA OPERATED BY EPPLEY HOTELS CO.

Heaquarter Ohio Union:

In the night of from April 22 to 23 six steamers again tried to run the blockade & break the Line before Vicksburg, Again it was unsuccesfull.

Happily I came through this unharmed, the Steamer "Sigreit" was set on fire. If one listens to the bombardment as I did from a distance of 5 km it seems unbelievable how Little damage was done, of course all shells do not hit their mark.

On the 27 of April so the orders just received state that we must be ready to advance towards the Division "Osterhaus" which is 18km down stream near Cartage, there we shall

OMAHA'S WELCOME TO THE WORLD HOTEL FONTENELLE - OMAHA OPERATED BY EPPLEY HOTELS CO.

cross over to the left bank & the start the real siege oder attack Vicksburg direct.

Wie are all so eager de to go into the nicely situated Vicksburg. We hope we do not fare like to Fox in Aesops Fables, "The grapes that look so inviting turned out to be sauer grapes.

I look forward with joy to the operation as this then will terminate military career.

On the 21 Gen. Maj. Thomas gave in the name of the President a long Abolition speech.

He stated that this war would free about 4 1/2 million Negros in the South, with these removed from the field the whites have to do their own work or starve.

Already nigger regiment