Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about how he spent Christmas with Sam at Captain Young's home. The weather in New Orleans had been severe, and the wharf was overcrowded. Because of this, they have not been able to unload their freight for a while. Moore felt as though this trip has been wasteful. He planned to offload some freight and then travel back up through Cairo. He warned his brother to watch out for collisions near Yazoo City and called them "one of the greatest dangers" there. Moore mentioned seeing Jim Watkins on the Madison and heard their father might be making a trip down, and hoped to take at least one trip with him.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to a man who is looking to buy a ship and to build or operate a boat for the Vicksburg-Yazoo City Trade. This letter contains hiring advice for a boat's captain so that the office can remain private. There is also financial advice for purchase of a hull and machinery. Moore offers to loan the individual money and breaks down the costs of the hull, machinery, and the cabin. Additionally, the letter mentions the steamer Southern Belle.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to his brother about getting a boat ready. Letter contains information about family members, who will join Moore on his next trip, and details for preparing the boat. Letter explains Captain Young did not sell the steamer Crescent, so Moore will take it over.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother. He explains that Milton will join their trip to Jack McFarland's place. He goes on to say that the Captain believes the boat will run all summer, and one or two more trips will indicate if it will. Moore says that obtaining a low water boat is improbable due to the fact that they are in high demand, and that the Yazoo citizens do not have much to depend on. He then asks his brother for assistance in searching and offers two-thousand dollars if it will be of use to him. He planned to leave that evening and return after 17 days.
A letter sent home from Enos B. Moore where he inquired as to why two previous letters had been unanswered, recognizing that he possibly did not receive their response. Talks about seeing Milton and Sam on the steamboat Ironton on the Missouri River. He tells of leaving the next day for New Orleans and describes a Yellow Fever outbreak there, and that due to low waters, the boat will stay in Louisiana longer. He is looking to get a response from the addressee and offers a little money if they need any. Asks for Ellen to write with any news from Long Woods and states he will be back in three weeks.
Letter from Enos B. Moore regarding his attempts at finding new workers for the ship. He received a letter from William near the steamboat Natchez. He sent a young man for the position of mate; he had heard the young man was very good, but a little fractious. He was unable to find a chambermaid in New Orleans who was worth sending, and expected their departure will be delayed until the next week.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to William with description of recent trips and the money made. He described a trip with a moderate number of passengers that lost almost a full night due to fog. He made a trip that amounted to about sixty-eight hundred dollars but described being sued by the steamboat Lucy Robinson for $867.00 in addition to a bill he was given of $550.00. They decided they would fight it. He had not heard any news from New Orleans as he continued to carry freight between Cairo and Cincinnati. Moore said he believed the steamboats had seen their best days, at least until they could be revolutionized. He made plans for a pleasure trip to New Orleans when he could hear back from family.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother on his way to St. Louis from Paducah. Samuel was with him on the boat and they are not sure how the boat would perform. He was afraid the draft was not right despite that they had not given it a fair trial.They had only had a few drunken firemen. He said the boat is alright, but drew a little more water than he expected. Moore expects the boat to trim on approximately 42 inches. The prospect for business looked gloomy. When the boat was complete, she would have cost about sixty-one thousand, which was a good deal of money. Moore writes that he put in $16,852 and Duvall $11,208. He offered his brother William a share in the cost of the boat.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother. The letter appears to be primarily an update on various people, family, and business. He mentioned Milton needing to save up money for a bushel to help him get through the hard times in the world, saying that people would swindle (fleece) individuals of their disposition. He received a letter from their father that all is well at home. While the letter is difficult to read, Moore discusses two locomotives on the Portsmouth Railroad and the N.O. Company, as well as another bridge and its association with a bridge that had fallen the previous fall. Business with the steamboat Crescent is doing well. He would like to hear of what kind of a boat they are building as Captain Waller is a little extravagant in his notions.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about the monument being built. Mr. Rule would build the monument after the model with slight modifications to the shaft. The monument would be made of the best material available, and would be delivered to the boat for $900. The inscription would be of the same pattern and size as in Spring Grove Cemetery. Moore mentioned being on the steamboat Mass for a few trips until the steamboat Crescent came out. He planned to take Sam with him and they would pilot it themselves.
Letter from Enos B. Moore on not lacking a staffing solution for the addressee. He mentioned purchasing extra flour in St. Louis at $8.00 per bushel, and that he did not know any young men who were idle to be an engineer for the addressee. Moore mentioned knowing Henderson Squires was an engineer in New Orleans who was available. Henderson had written and not received a response, so Moore assumed that his help was not desired.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about ordering a monument in Cincinnati. He heard his brother was laid up and feared the monument would not be ready. Moore said he was on the steamboat Mass headed for Cairo, and would return on the steamboat Michigan before attempting to work on the steamboat Crescent.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to Maria discussing how he misses her presence already, and he hoped to return on time. He felt lonely in the world, but even though she was absent her heart was with him. He had heard a report of the river at St. Louis rising, and being clear of ice. He thought of the risk a woman took in entrusting her happiness to a man and how he was to assume a fearful responsibility, but they both have proper motives. Moore mentioned it would be a pleasure to fulfill the obligations he was assuming. He hoped they would be able to arrange their affairs in Yazoo City quietly, and would telegraph to her from Memphis.
Letter from Enos B. Moore on maintenance issues the boat was having. He mentioned a poor trip where no passengers were picked up in Cairo, and he was having trouble getting the spark burner put in. He mentioned that Sam got off at Vicksburg but that Moore will travel down the coast as he waits for the boat. He was sure there was no danger but didn't want to risk the striker pilot. He did not know if Duvall would stop but hoped to get the boat taken in. He had only half-freight as he was not able to get the rest.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother giving an update. He mentioned that he received a letter about Captain Chute going over to the lake but he did not return before they set off. He had learned from the Custom House that J.E. Caldwell was the only owner of the line known on their books. Captain Pittfield went to Pensacola and took his books with him. He shared information given by Crescent Insurance Co. about an ownership position on a boat that might be available.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to William from Hiawatha. The steamboat Oglesby had been laid up at St. Louis. He was going to go down and arrange for some money to be sent to the bank for Mr. Moore. The shafts had been made, and most of the work was done except for the boilers and a few other tasks. Work was to be done in the shop for the remaining tasks and the engines. The steamboat Crescent had gone down to standby until spring. They had a fair trip down that would pay them something.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to Maria before landing in Memphis regarding how he and others felt lonesome after she left, but he knew it would not always be that way. He mentioned that a young friend of theirs felt it is not good for a man to be alone, and would be asking many hard questions before long. Moore mentioned sympathizing with her trouble with Mrs. Roberts, which was a delicate subject that he hoped Maria would be able to arrange a compromise. He hoped to hear back from her soon when he arrived in Vicksburg, as he was anxious to hear about her arrangements to the school and the future.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to William, sent from about fifty miles south of Memphis. He mentioned that Captain Gould, the superintendent of the line, was on board and stated the boats would not try to make their regular time until after the ice cleared. Their schedules had run out and other boats were laying up. He planned to spend three days in St. Louis to do some sheet iron work and would write again from Memphis.
Employment reference letter for Mr. Woodworth from Enos B. Moore to Captain Moore. Woodworth was employed as a mate on the steamboat The Home for $75.00 a month.
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his wife regarding her meeting him in St. Louis. He mentioned having been delayed in St. Louis, but was finally on his way to New Orleans. He hoped to make up time there and return to St. Louis on schedule. Moore wanted his wife to meet him there and instructed her that if she arrived before them, to go ahead to the Barnum's Hotel as it was quiet and as good as any. He regretted that she would travel alone but could not wait to see her.