Letter from James to Mother, September 1, 1863#

I have not got the papers and other good things; I think they must

have been sent to Will and to camp. The money I appropriated now.

New Orleans, Sept. 1st 1863

Dear Mother,

I received two welcome letters from home today. I am glad to hear that all are doing well and prospering at home. Your hopes and expectations to our coming home soon are, I am sorry to say, doomed to be blasted, as has been decided upon by the officials here to keep the three year men, among which are Will and myself, the time of the nine months. Men in our Regiment will be out on the 10th of October when they will be sent home. There is a rare possibility of them not keeping the three year men on account of there being so few of them. We will know for certain in a month. I believe it is the design of the Major, after sending home the nine month men, to fill out the Regiment with drafted men. I, myself, will soon dissolve all connection with the Regiment; that is, I have a pretty good prospect – the case stands this way: And to make it short and sweet I am going to be a Captain or Lieutenant, I don’t know which yet, in a Negro Regiment, the 16th Corps d’Afrique. I have a pretty fair prospect of success. I have just returned from a recruiting expedition up the country, when two months ago I was a miserable prisoner. It would have done you good to see me bully the planters. I got out at Terre Bonne Station and went into the first plantation and demanded a good horse and saddle, and wanted it in a hurry too. The Planter, one Overseer, and two sons all came in a body to expostulate and argue the point with me. I remembered my suffering some two months previous in the country and got wroth and told them I did not want any argument, just a horse and saddle and that very sudden too. I said to a nig – there was about a dozen standing around showing their ivories, stretching their mouths from ear to ear – saddle up the best horse on the place and bring him to me. I mounted my steed and then commenced to review them. Then there was a row; the Planter thought, as a high handed proceeding, taking his hands from him that had cost him so much money from 700 to a thousand dollars a piece, but I had my papers from the General and they had to submit. The military is all powerful here, what they say is law and the command of a soldier has to be obeyed, providing of course, it is in conformity with General orders. Fifty men constitute a company of Black soldiers, and myself with two others stand a fair chance of raising, in which case I intend going as a Captain it is the only alternative to serve two years as a Private, or get a commission, when after awhile I can probably resign. The pay is something over $100 a month and I would like to make enough to send me through college if possible as well as support the family. I am having a first rate time. At present, I have furnished rooms at 170 Commandelett Street, New Orleans, where in the future you may direct my letters. Direct them for the present, until you hear further from me, to Lieut. J.S. Wade, and please have the envelope directed in as neat a manner as possible, as there is a great deal in outside show here. When I get my uniform I will have my picture taken and sent to you. I intend to have my company full this month if possible. I wish you would let me know how much money there is in my account, in the point I suppose, of course, you have used considerable for the support of the family. Give me correct balance so that I can see how I stand and also send by Adams Express or mail, I don’t care much of which, twenty-five dollars. I think Adams Express is the safest. Direct it the same as the letters, I have on hand now twenty dollars and then the pay for the months of July, August, and September at thirteen per month, thirty-nine dollars more with the twenty-five dollars you will send me, will get me my uniform and support me for awhile. As soon as my Company is full and mustered in my pay as a Lieutenant or Captain commences, although it will be two months after the date of my commission before I can get my money, as they only pay every two months, I apprehend we will have very little to do in the way of fighting. The country is swarming with our troops, they are forming Negro Regiments in every direction and they expect the conscripts to begin to come in soon; when what Rebels are left in the country will be swept before our victorious columns. We seem to be beating them at every front, the fall of Vicksburg was a terrible blow to them in this section of the country, they felt it very much. It is gall and wormwood to the Rebels to see our transports passing to and fro on the Mississippi loaded with troops. We have about twenty-five thousand of General Grant’s men in and around the city resting from the toils of war. They are having a good time of it, while their General is planning another campaign for them. I received a letter from Cousin Louise, she feels very bad about the loss of her brother. He died at Vicksburg on the afternoon of the Fourth of July, that ever-to-be-remembered day on which Vicksburg fell. I am drilling a Company of negroes that will revenge his death, if the have a fair chance. They complain of not having read a letter from you for some time. I have not seen Will for two weeks; he won’t like the idea of keeping the three-year men. He said he is going home, but don’t waste any anxiety on me; I am still alright, only send along the twenty-five dollars. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. The next time you see me it will be in a Captain’s uniform. I would like to hear from Father. I hope his health is good, tell him not to worry; I will send piles of green-backs home after awhile. John writes good letters but he makes his letters so loud, so large; I mean he uses a great deal of paper and not much writing on it. The rebels here are in hopes of keeping the war along until the next Presidential Elections when they imagine there will be a reaction in the North, but I think they will be finished up before that time. That is if we will only enforce the draft, everything depends on that our armies must be filled up.

Your ever Affectionate son,

James D. Wade

Direct your letters to Lieut. J.D. Wade 170 Commandelett Street New Orleans