July 4, 1863
Vicksburg, Miss

				Vicksburg July the 4th 1863

Dear companion
	I have the pleasure this afternoon of announcing to you and 
all the neighbors that Vicksburg with all it contained was surrendered 
to us today. I have just returned from the scene. I saw the graybacks 
march outside of their forts and stack their arms. I understand they 
made that request to gen grant. They was out with a flag of truce 
nearley all day yesterday. Firing seaced late yesterday eavning. It 
seames quite odd to us not to heare the continual thunder of the canon. 
I cant give you any petickulers at this time. You can read or heare 
read in the papers all about it. I would say thare is as many as 30 
thousand prisners. I must close and go and draw my pay.
Now Rachel I have just drawed 75 dollars and have just expressed 70 
dollars to you. I sent it to the Shoals in Father Deckers name as you 
are not known at that place. If you havent got the word when this 
comes to hand send after it immeadately. I am sorry that I could not 
send you any sooner. Now Rachel I feel thankful to God that I have 
been sparred to see the long sought Vicksburg fall into our hands for 
we have a hard and dangerous time. But I have not been tuched yet by 
a ball. But many passed very near me. I feel strong in the faith of 
the Christian religion. God is my trust. This is the 6th battlefield 
I have explored since I have been out in the service. This will be 
a day long to be remembered. It is 87 years today sience our 
indipendense was declared. Thare is many items I would like to write 
to you. But it is nearley sunset and we have orders to march tonite 
in the direction of Jackson. Some thinks we are bound for tennessee 
to renforce Rosencrans. So you can see thare is no rest for the 
solders of the southwest. I am proud that I belong to the western 
armey. The great eastern armey takes two much pride in grand reviews 
and dress parades. That is generaley the news from them. But I am 
bound to close. You can see that I am in a hurrah by the way this 
is wrote. Still pray for your unworthy husband. I have turned out 
to going barefooted. But the dust come near blistering my feet 
today. I will have to hall on my old boots again.
 ----------- if you get your money. Direct as before. You shal heare 
from me soon again if posible.
Yours as ever. David S. Morgan to Rachel Morgan

25 cents to Billey Mack Morgan  tell Billey I havent forgoten that knife.