"...life would be pleasant in the army while lying camp, but on the march and in actual engagement is the time to try the souls of men."

Autograph letter signed by 2nd Lt. Willis C. Ferguson (1822-1863), Co. E, 114th Ohio Infantry Regiment. "Camp Youngs Point, La." 15 February 1863. 12pp, approx. 4 3/4 x 7 3/4 in., on patriotic letterhead. Addressed to his wife. With cover addressed to Mrs. W.C. Ferguson, possibly from a later piece of correspondence given March 18 cancel.

The 114th OVI was organized in September 1862 and by December of that year had joined Sherman's expedition against Vicksburg. Willis (sometimes William) Ferguson enlisted on 8/14/1862 into Co. E. Following  a series of engagements, by the spring of 1863 the regiment was encamped at Milliken's Bend and Young's Point, where it was part of the troops tasked with building "Grant's Canal," a failed Union project intended to divert the Mississippi River away from Vicksburg. Ferguson describes his first attempted foray to the work site: "About 5 o'clock this morning I was waked up by the Sergt. Major to order out the company with their arms and accoutrements and one days rations.... We marched to the river landing, stood about an hour in a drenching rain, and when the rain ceased the boat landed that was ordered to take us down to the point some 5 or 6 miles below....We then found out we were to have been put to work on the great ditch or canal they are cutting across the point opposite Vicksburg. Our regiment has 150 feet of cutting to make 6 or 8 feet deep and about 25 feet wide...." Later he describe taking shifts working on the canal followed by witnessing the shelling of the city: "One of our Mortar boats was shelling Vicksburg nearly all day. We could see the bursting of a good many of the shells high up in the air directly over the city. The intention was said to be that the pieces as they fell off should break through the roofs of buildings and destroy life as much as possible."

Ultimately work on the canal would cease, in part due to the sickness and disease ravaging the laboring troops, a circumstance alluded to by Ferguson: "...we found the Lieut. [Rowlen] laid out. You remember what a large fleshy man he was, but he is now like a skeleton. He was always a good friend to me and I would rather have succeeded in being promoted by the death of almost any other man." 

The remainder of the letter is filed with family news and descriptions of camp life. Ferguson was mortally wounded on May 22, 1863, during a charge on the works near Vicksburg. He died two days later. Vicksburg fell to General Grant on 4 July 1863.

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