Colonel Eakin, 59th Tennessee, in a February 27, 1904 letter to the Vicksburg National Park Commissioners, wrote:

“ . . . I had a freedman who did the cooking for my mess. A sharp shooter, who we supposed was in a tree, succeeded in striking one of the vessels he was using in the fire. He did not stop—only cursing the ‘Yankees’ went on preparing such meal as we were able to indulge our appetites. He was a brave fellow. I was unable to get permission to bring him away after the surrender. There were some five or six colored men attached to my regiment. We left some of them shedding tears; they all overtook us, before we reached Meridian. Said they told the Yankees that the rebels had impressed them and they desired to visit their wives and children, and were given rations. . . “

He closed his letter noting that his only two brothers were in the Federal service of three years, and formed a partnership with a Federal Officer to practice law soon after the close of the war.