ORN:

Letter from Lieutenant Howell, commanding Ram Lancaster, to Lieutenant Bishop, U.S. Navy, regarding Coal.:

Steam Ram Lancaster
Memphis, December 28, 1862

Sir: I find the steamer Mill Boy is now in Government service, and to hire her to tow a barge across the river will be more expense than I am at present able to incur. Will you send me word by the bearer how much coal you can spare from your barge and inform him of its location so that I can at once coal up? By so doing you will much oblige,
Yours very respectfully,
Lieut. H.P. Howell Commanding, Steam Ram Lancaster

Bishop was in command of a gunboat christened General Bragg at this time.