John Lester Barstow to Laura
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I have nothing particularly new to write you, that has transpired since my last letter I am, as you see, still on the line of Rail Road along which so many of our soldiers have found sickness, suffering and death, to be their pation
- We are now about 4 miles from the Rail Road and troops are coming every day to
strengthen the past - There is a Brig. Genl. here now in command so that I have
not so much responsibility as formerly. Gen. Banks has fallen back to Simsport
and there is no telling how soon the rebs, may try to cross the rivers &
Lakes, in force, into this District, but as they have so few Boats I think they
will not send many men over. I have just come from our Hospital, and it is
enough to make ones heart ache to see the young boys away from home &
friends, stretched out with fevers, and other diseases - some, bear up well and
are
ready to die or live, others are so home sick, that they shed
tears, and it is quite touching to hear them talk about their mothers &
sisters - but they have comfortable beds & are in a good house, that I
seized for them, and their sufferings are nothing, compared to the thousands who
are wounded and left to starve, on the feild. I am not at all well and thinks
the hot weather nor coming on will not agree with me very well. -
As yet, there is no action on the part of the authorities about mustering the old
men out of service, but I have no reason to doubt but what it will be done, I
expect to hear something more about it soon. As you may well beleive, I think
constantly about the time when I shall again be at home. I hope my health will
be better than it is now - if not, I shall not take much comfort any where. We
look for the veterans in about a week or ten days, unless they are ordered to
the Potomac which I hope will not be the case. It is very sickly at New Orleans
& vicinity - when we were at Algeus there was over 200 cases of small pox
mostly among the negroes, but I do not think there is much of it here
-
I hope Freddie does not make your people as much trouble as used to - he is old enough to behave pretty well, it seems as though I could not wait to get home again to see you & him - I hope the time is not far off when that will be, & when this awful war will be over. Please remember me to all your Fathers family - including Fred & his wife - I am not well enough acquainted with her to call her Jennie yet, but hope I shall be - you know Mrs. Hender used to laugh at me because I did not call her Sarah - how pleasant it will be when we can go there, & to Mr. Brownells again - where I can see my namesake. I am afraid he will not know me, when I get home. But I must close my letter which I do not think will prove very interesting. We are to fortify our camp to-morrow & are I think pretty safe - Good bye
From your Affectionate HusbandLester