Letter from Willie to Mother, June 12 & 13, 1863#

Brashear City, June 12th [1863]

Dear Mother,

I will now commence this letter. Our time is so occupied that we have little time for letter writing. Then it is so hot that it keeps us in fitters all the time. I received a letter from John yesterday – all well. I am glad to hear that you all keep your health. James and I are enjoying good health and getting black as you please. There is a great deal of excitement here all the time. This is about the routine of the day first. Reveille at half past four, breakfast at six o’clock, drill from 6 to 8, dinner at 12, drill from 4 to six, Tatoo at 9. But then the drills will all be stopped in a week or so as it is getting so hot. For the last week we have been on the move every night as we expect an attack here. One night we got on the cars and went down to Bayou Boeuf expecting an attack in the rear and every night since we have walked down to the railroad about 10 o’clock and slept on top of the cars, ready for any emergency. Then we have been shelling them most every day. There have been some reinforcements sent to us and two pieces of artillery. A flag of truce appeared yesterday. We sent a boat over and brought over some paroled prisoners. Our shelling is very effective. I saw a shell strike about 20 feet behind a horseman the other day. It would make you laugh to have seen him jump. I guess the horse is running yet. The flies bother us by day and the mosquitoes by night.

June 13th. I will write a few more lines. The mosquitoes bothered me so last night that I had to stop writing. I expect you will find plenty of mistakes as there is so much excitement. I like it first rate – the more excitement the better. We are in first rate spirits. We are talking about forming an expedition to bag about two hundred Rebs. They are so long attacking us that our Regiment is one of the best that left New York. We have good line officers but poor staff officers. Our colonel is at present sick in New Orleans but is getting better. The best staff officer we have got is the Major (Morgan), but then he is none of the best. The Rebels have been obstructing a bayou that connects Grand Lake with the Mississippi. We sent a boat up to clear it

but they were so annoyed by the Rebs that they had to give it up. On coming out, the boat ran on a snag and sank about 11 o’clock at night but no one was lost. George Fanjoy was on her. He arrived here yesterday. He has been gone about a week. He looks played out. He lost his shoes and gun but got the captain’s gun. He was up within ten miles of Port Hudson. We don’t get any news from there. All the news we get about it is from New York. I have just come off guard. Last night as my relief was off I laid down on the grass on my rubber blanket. I was looking up in the sky at the stars and wondering what you were all doing at home. It was a beautiful night. There was a light breeze blowing off the bay. It being Saturday night, I pictured the sun as I thought that Max was in Grand Street buying things for Sunday. Perhaps Pa was along, John in his store playing along so different from the excitement of war. Then Durlyn I don’t know where to place. Perhaps he was wrapped in peaceful slumber. You must tell him not to forget to write. Tell John he has improved wonderfully in his writing. I hardly knew it in his last that piece of cloth must make a very pretty sack. Today is the Sabbath and our Regiment is having a grand inspection before the commandant of the post. I happened to get off from it so I will not have to stand in the hot sun for two hours with my knapsack on. We are throwing new entrenchments near under the charge of one of the sergeants but it is getting too warm to write any more. I am well.

I remain your affectionate son,

Willie