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(Letters from U.S. Gen Adelbert Ames to his wife, Blanche Butler Ames spending the summer At Massachusetts Bay near Lowell and Boston).
August 11, 1873 Shieldsboro, Miss.
I came out here yesterday from New Orleans. Riding out on the cars yesterday afternoon I watched for alligators in the water in the excavations by the track. I saw half a dozen or so.
Just before reaching this station we passed Montgomery Station and saw the ground on which Cooley and Rhett fought a duel a month ago, in which Cooley was killed.
Everybody lives on oysters and fish here. Such, at least, has been my diet last night at supper and this morning at breakfast. There is to be a regatta today. The place is crowded. I occupied one of five beds in the same room last night. I have protested this morning, and will get one by myself today. I send to my beautiful wife love, which she will share with our babies (son Butler and daughter Edith). (MJS X 04574).
August 12, 1873. from Shieldsboro, Miss. Yesterday we had a boat race here, which proved quite interesting. We took our stand on board a Revenue Cutter which was lying at one of the piers. Just as the boats were to start a rain squall came up.
The state was delayed, but two boats at different times tried to move about (under sail) and were capsized, but no one was hurt.
Finally the boats which had met with no accident started. The contest was between a New York built boat and a fleet of boats built here. The N.Y. boat took the lead and kept it for four or five miles, when she capsized in a squall, nobody hurt.
The race was finally won by a boat built at This place.
This is my second day here, and I rather enjoy this quiet.
The people are mainly from the south of Europe and French.
You hear a foreign language spoken everywhere.
It is very unlike Mississippi. Down here on the coast they do not seem to care or even know much of Mississippi or any other kind of politics. In this particular it is more pleasant than up country where every Democrat looks upon you and treats you as an enemy.
The weather, save the heavy rain yesterday has been very pleasant and comfortable.
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(MJS X 04574)