Hugh Trenor, aboard the USS Monongahela, to his sister Elizabeth Laughlin

USS Monnongahela [sic] Port Hudson LA

Dear Sister

I send you these few lines to let you know where I am. I have been in the Mississippi River for the last 6 months. We have had 4 or 5 battels [sic] with the Rebels. But the hardest was at Port Hudson where we had 7 men killed and 24 wounded. That was on board one of our ships. Some of the other ships lost a great many men. It was an awful night. The Rebels are making for Texas. The times are very dull in N Orleans. There are very few Steamboats in the River. There is nothing but man of wars steaming up and down. The towns are all shot and burned. The country looks awful nothing to be seen but Contraband [word illegible] on the bank of the River. My time is out on the 5^th of January and then I would like to come up the River as far as DuBuque to see how you are all getting on. If I do not get shot before my time is out. For the last 2 years and a half I have been in every Rebel State from [word illegible] more to N Orleans and never got [words illegible] yet. I hope you and your husband are doing well. I should like to have seen mother before she died. I wonder how Father gets along now by himself. I never have received a letter from DuBuque since the one you wrote me last year. I should like to know how the rest of my Brothers and Sisters are getting on and all the people in DuBuque. Suppose the times are very dull in the west now but the River is open which will make the times better in a few months. It is the sickly season here now. There are thirty men sick now on board of our ship but I am in good health thank god at present so no more.

From you Brother

Hugh Trenor

I send my best respects to all my Sisters and Brothers and my Father.

I hope you will send me an answer if you please and direct it to Hugh Trenor

USS Monnongahela [sic] South Western Blockading Squadron.

SOURCE: Transcription courteously supplied by Ellen Elliott, great grand-niece of Hugh Trenor. The original letter is in her possession. She estimates the undated letter was written between March 14, 1863 (the date of the Battle of Port Hudson) and January 5, 1864, and states that Hugh Trenor was not listed among the killed during the March 14, 1863 battle of Port Hudson. After writing this letter Hugh disappears from the historical record and nothing further is known of him. Ellen would be very interested to hear from anyone who may have information relating to Hugh Trenor or his possible whereabouts. You may email her HERE.