Morganza Bend. La 5/28″ –64
Folkes at Home
As I have a few moments to spend in some usefull way I will improve them by writing. I have written Several times since I left Franklin La I wrote the 27″ of March while at Alexandria Apr 4″ while at Nachitoches.. April 12″ while at Grand Ecose. Apr 15″ at Grand Ecose May 5″ while at Alexandria & May 26″ after we got to the Miss” And I received from you one letter the 14″ of March while at Franklin La another April 25′ while at Alexandria & one May 22 after I got to the Miss— I have tryed to tell you Something about our expedition but don’t know as I have told you anything of importance and there is no use of telling anything about it now for the papers tell you more than I ever thought of or any body else ever saw… I read an account of our fight near Mansfield in the Delaware Gazett. it told some big lies and some of it was true. I dont remember just how it read all the way through. but it stated that A. J. Smith retook Nims Battery on the 9″ that was taken on the 8″ which was no such thing. Nims Batter was taken on the 8″ but it was not retaken at all. and about the 13″ Corps being in reserve at Pleasent Hill while the 19″ Corps & A. J ‘s men were in position is no such thing while the fight was going on at Pleasent Hill the 13″ Corps (what was left of them) were with the wagon train on their way to Grand Ecose.. and that abomnible thing the wagon truain they said some how another got in the way.. I think tis very easy to see how it got in the way.. a wagon train 12 miles long in the Pine woods and the road so narrow that a team could not turn round and clear up with our advance Cavelry. it looks strange how it could be in the way I think..—– May 29?
Well I had to stop writing the other day and get ready to move.. we went on board the Steamer Univerce and sailed down to Baton Rouge. and we are now in Camp in the suburbs of the town (scratched out) City.. we have a very nice Camp ground on the Sod..the Ordely just came round and told us to have our letters wrote by 4 oclock for the mail was going out at that time.. So you see I will have to pitch in. I got a letter from you last night before I got of the Boat it had several dates fixed to it good deal like mine.. I was glad to hear the news.. glad to hear they were so many going to war I expect there will be Some thing done now.. but I was writing Something about our fight when I had to stop and move the other day.. there was a number of coppies of the Telescope came in the mail last night and were distributed among the Boys and I saw an account of our fight in one of them.. it was the nearest right of any account I have seen only it did not say anything about the wagon train. It was wrote by Chap. Chittenden of the 67 Ind Reg of our Brig.. in the coppie of May 11.. it is about true as far as it goes only it says nothing of the train which was the cause of our getting defeated. and untill we get someone at the head of the heap that will do little different in regard to matters and things we will never acomplish anything. Gen Banks for himself and staff had 35 wagones & Gen Franklin & staff had 30 they carried everything you could think of even to Bird Cages.. the ð 7 3 Rebs took a lot of the train and when we were at Grand Ecore they sent in a flag of truse and told Banks that they would exchange a wagon load of his Paper Collars they had taken from us for a load of Hard tack if he wished to do so. but we had rather a slim supply of hard tack so he thought he
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would not trade.. the cause of the 19″ and 13″ Corps not likeing one another any better is because the 13″ does not put on Style enough.. but I will stop for the mail goes out in a little while. write soon give me the news.. from L.C.