Translation of A. Achen letter, page 1

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