Help with transcribing please

[Caswellcurious]

I have circled the part that I need transcribed. I included two pages so you can get a sense of the handwriting. He splits words as they come at the end of the margin rather than by syllables, uses upper case letters indiscriminately, and often spells phonetically.

William Patterson, who was in the same company, the 38th Illinois Infantry, wrote that they had been building a ferry in Doniphan that they finished on April 8. He also says they used a flat boat that was "pressed into service at Pocahontas and brought down the river to this place by Company I."

Any and all transcriptions as well as explanation of what is going on is truly appreciated.

 

[Biscoitos]

First word is "Donaphan" (obviously Doniphan)
lower portion reads:
"...here loaded with camp equipage and had two cannon mounted on her."
I can only read maybe 1 word in three on the top portion. Maybe after coffee and my eyes and brain wake up I can do better.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

First word is "Donaphan" (obviously Doniphan)
lower portion reads:
"...here loaded with camp equipage and had two cannon mounted on her."
I can only read maybe 1 word in three on the top portion. Maybe after coffee and my eyes and brain wake up I can do better.

Maybe indecipherable word on first line, after 'Donaphan', is 'passing'.

 

[Caswellcurious]

Thanks--do you know what a flat boat was?

 

[Library Lady]

Perhaps "ferried (?) us here".

 

[Caswellcurious]

Maybe indecipherable word on first line, after 'Donaphan', is 'passing'.

That could be it. the second line does look more like "ing" than what I was trying to make it "is". Also he does make a P with flourish! Thanks.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Thanks--do you know what a flat boat was?

Guess it's like a barge or pontoon - a roomy flat bottomed floating vessel (like a large raft) for carrying cargo on its top.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

That could be it. the second line does look more like "ing" than what I was trying to make it "is". Also he does make a P with flourish! Thanks.

You are welcome.

 

[Caswellcurious]

Perhaps "ferried (?) us here".

I do believe that could be it. It would make sense. I had thought "Pared" thinking it might be a regional word but found nothing. Thank you.

 

[Caswellcurious]

First word is "Donaphan" (obviously Doniphan)
lower portion reads:
"...here loaded with camp equipage and had two cannon mounted on her."
I can only read maybe 1 word in three on the top portion. Maybe after coffee and my eyes and brain wake up I can do better.

Well I wasn't paying attention to my own notes about his writing. I had that as "two cannonmon riveted on her" which made little sense. I see it now--mo-unted. Thanks!

 

[Mike Serpa]

...it is here decided within camp...?

 

[Caswellcurious]

...it is here decided within camp...?

Thanks--I have the word as "loaded"--he would have capitalized L. I'll keep the suggestion in mind.

 

[DixieRifles]

I'm not that good at reading these letters but he tries to make his look pretty. I wanted to give it a try since this is an area that I'm interested in. You may not have asked for this but you did post it.

APRIL 1862
21 Marcht to Pocahontas
on the Big Black
river in Arkansas
the Rebs all fled
Before us got their
the Rebs fired on
Small Party of Cavalry
and Killed one man
his home Was in coles
County Ill


My Notes:
Pocahontas is in the Northern part of Arkansas, close to Missouri border, on the Black River(not Big Black).
There is a Coles County in Illinois.

 

[Tom Elmore]

My take: "Donaphan [Doniphan] Fare [Ferry] I am here loaded with camp equipage and had two cannon mounted on here."

 

[Mike Serpa]

My take: "Donaphan [Doniphan] Fare [Ferry] I am here loaded with camp equipage and had two cannon mounted on here."

Much better than I came up with.

 

[Caswellcurious]

My take: "Donaphan [Doniphan] Fare [Ferry] I am here loaded with camp equipage and had two cannon mounted on here."

Spelling again--fare. Thanks very much.

 

[Caswellcurious]

I'm not that good at reading these letters but he tries to make his look pretty. I wanted to give it a try since this is an area that I'm interested in. You may not have asked for this but you did post it.

View attachment 443197

APRIL 1862
21 Marcht to Pocahontas
on the Big Black
river in Arkansas
the Rebs all fled
Before us got their
the Rebs fired on
Small Party of Cavalry
and Killed one man
his home Was in coles
County Ill


My Notes:
Pocahontas is in the Northern part of Arkansas, close to Missouri border, on the Black River(not Big Black).
There is a Coles County in Illinois.

Thank you for your help. Caswell was from Coles County. I think that is probably why he mentioned him.