MISSISSIPPIANS DEFEND VICKSBURG IN 1862 Confederate soldier's A.L.S., "R.M. Moorhead" 3rd Battalion Mississippi State Troops Infantry, 2pp. folio, Camp Milldale near Vicksburg, Aug. 22, 1863, folded letter with two Scott #4 Jeff Davis five cent stamps and nice bold black Vicksburg postmark. In part: "...We were alarmed while on drill and ordered out about a half of a mile to meet the Yankees who had come up Yazoo River and with 3 gunboats and two transport boats with 5 thousand troops as was thought they came up to Haynes Bluff about one miles from where we were encamped at Camp Bruce...We stayed out on line of battle until about midnight when we were ordered back to camp, as soon as we go back to camp we were ordered to his place...It is thought the Yanks is going to attack Vicksburg in a few days and we will be ordered to that place which is I suppose 10 or 12 miles from here. I have not seen a Yankee since I arrive at this place but I have heard their cannon roar and a bomb whistle through the air, they throwed or shot two...". Prominent folds, a few small holes, general soiling and wear, good.