John Lester Barstow to Laura
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When I wrote you last it was from Brasheau City, and I was not well, since that time I have not been exempt from the bustle, excitement and hard labor, that I find is the lot of a soldier -
While I was sick I had neuralgia dumbague &c but did not feel
bad enough to be off duty - the Col. however thought that I
needed rest & ordered me to New Orleans, making some
trifling business matters as an excuse - I knew that you had
written me several times for my daggeureotz pe, &
thought it would be a good chance - & besides knew as
well as the Colonel did that I needed to rest - which I
never could do, while with the Regiment, So I
went
down to the city intending to stay several days - on the
evening of the second day after I got there I was notified
that Heitzels Brigade was ordered to retreat - that the rebels had three Gun
Boats from Red River, and would attack him with such
superior force that he might as well retreat one time as
another and that I was wanted immediately
- So back I went - without getting my likeness for you - I however sent you a little tinket by Col. Brown who is going home in a few days
- Well I got back to Brashear City the 20th & found the
Regiment all packing up and expecting an immidiate attack -
I packed up too & we all laid out in him on battle all
night - but there was no fighting except by the pickets -
before light the next morning we moved back to this place,
and encamped in a
muddy cane field - just planted
- that day it commenced raining as hard as I ever saw it
rain, and so it continued for 36 hours - no words can tell
what we suffered - no wood - no fire to cook - not half the
tents had arrived and the mud was from 6 inches deep to no
bottom at all.
- In my tent the water was 7 inches deep for a whole day - Of
course it had to stop raining after a while, & it is now
some better - one of our men actually died in his tent
without going to the hospital - being in the immediate
vicinity of the enemy, we had to keep strong gaurds out in
all directions - more than 1/2 of our Regiment is still out,
watching the movements of the Rebels - You ahve no doubt
seen in the papers what Admiral Harragut diddone at Port Hudson - I do not
know but it is called a victory - He
wanted to take his whole fleet up he
did not take up but two boats - fort
his best boat
the Mississippi two others were disabled - Gen. Banks and
his whole army retreated to Baton Rouge where they now are -
So you can see that matters look rather dark in this
department I, however, firmly beleive that it will all come
out night, and that soon, we shall hear of the downfall of
Vicksburgh and Port Hudson, as well as Charlston - then I shall go home - I have not
heard from you for some days - a Steamer, the Bio Bio, was
burned at the wharf at New Orleans the next day after she
arrived and although I cannot learn with certainty, I have
no doubt the mail was also burned, for no mail matter has
come up since, My thoughts are with you my dear wife almost
constantly may heavens blessings be with you & Freddie.
Send me your photographs - give my love to your mother and
all the family & beleive as ever
yours affectionatelyLester