Letter from Willie to Parents, March 13, 1863#

Terri Bonnie.

March 13th 1863

Dear Mother,

I have just come off of Guard and since I was excused from drill, I will write home. I wrote a letter a week ago which I intended to send with James’ letter but he sent it while I was on picket, so I will enclose it in this. There is nothing new here at present. Two of our Companies went up to Boneblack Bay this week; another Co went today to guard a plantation to keep the Niggers at work and guard the sugar. It is getting pretty warm here and the mosquitoes are getting so thick that we can hardly sleep. The boys get them out by blowing off blank cartridges which makes them skedaddle quickly enough; then we wrap our heads up and go to sleep. They are all secessionists about here, although they have taken the Oath of Allegiance, yet are Rebels at heart. The men don’t like it because they have to guard Rebel property at the Station, but then we generally take our lot out of the eggs and sugar and any thing else on the platforms. We have plenty of molasses and sugar. There is any quantity of Colored folks about who have run away from their masters. They work for the government and with different Regts . We have two or three in our Company keeping the street clean and working in the cook-house. We don’t hear much about our Army at Vicksburg but we understand that there is to be a strike there before long. We don’t hear any news from Charlestown. James and I are getting so sunburned that you would hardly know us, as we got our hair cut short just as we got here. There are very few sick and they are getting along very well. We have not heard from home since we landed but I expect the next steamer will have the letters for us. It is astonishing what a quantity of sugar-cane has been destroyed. Miles and miles of it stands rotting in the field. Great quantities of it have been burned. Then there are great quantities of sweet potatoes here. I was out digging some the other morning; I got my haversack full. There is no fresh meat to be had; we are fed on salt meat together with beans. The men are pretty well contented but they would be more so if

they would pay us off. I do not know what they are waiting for; the payrolls have been made out some time. Some more red tape I expect. It is a very wild place about here and you can hear the bellowing of the alligators in the night time and the screeching of the owls. George Fanjoy shot one through the head the other day. We had a prayer meeting on Sunday evening. It seemed quite natural; then we had one on Wednesday evening. They were pretty well attended, but then the mosquitoes were so thick that it was a hard matter to stay in the room; and they say this is nothing to what it will be next month.

Nothing more at present; write us as soon as you get this.

Hoping this will find you all well, I remain

Your Affect son

Willie

Direct New Orleans or Elsewhere