Morganzia La Oct 30th 1864 Dear Friends.
Today finds the 96th again in their old camp at Morganzia. as well as usual & everything quiet.. I wrote you a few lines while in the woods out near the Archafayla River & told you we expected soon to come into camp. & so we did. we were relieved by the 2nd Brigd which came out night before last & took our position & yesterday we marched into camp.. when we were ordered out on the 18th we took nothing but our Blankets and were ordered to stay five days when the five days were up we were ordered to stay five days more & when they were up we were releaved & you may bet we were glad to get back to camp where we could get a change of clothes & clean up.. it seemed almost like getting home for we have things fixed up pretty comfortable here now. and while we were gone we had to lay out in the rain we have a little rain about every other day. but have not had enough to make it very muddy yet.. I beleave I told you something about our having a talk with the Johny Rebs while out to the Archafayla River. Co G was on Picket the morning we had a talk with them.. about 9 o’clock in the morning one of the Rebs opposite the post where I was standing hallows out “hallo Yanks” I asked him what he wanted.. he wanted to know how we were getting along over there.. I told him we were all right. Said he what Regt do you belong to.. I told him the 96th Ohio.. said he “bully for the 96th Ohio.. I asked him where he belonged. he said the 2nd Louisiana.. after talking a while I asked him if he had heard from Richmond lately.. he said he had not.. then asked me if I had.. I told him I had & that it was about to fall that our army was within 1 1/2 miles of the City.. he thought that was getting pretty close but thought we could not take it. I then asked what he thought of Gen Grant.. he said he was the best Gen we had and if they could of had him they would whiped us long ago. I asked him if he did not call Gen Lee a good Gen.. he said so so. After while I asked him who he was going to vote for.. said he Abe Lincoln.. I then asked him what he thought of McClellan.. Said he did not like him for if he got in power he would put Banks out of Office & they would get no more Commissaries.. Said I what do you thing of Gen Banks.. said he “bully” bully” then said I what do you thing of Gen Grangers expedition in Alabama with the capture of Fort Ganes & Morganiza he said he knew nothing about it & wanted to know when it hapened.. I told him when & how it hapened and he seemed to know nothing about it.. I asked him if he had any late papers.. he said he had not.. I told him I had a Cincinnati Commercial & in it was Gen. Logans speech which I would like to have him read and if he would come acrost he might have it. he said he had no way to come if he had he would.. In the former part of our conversation I told him we had orders to not shoot & he need not be afraid to show himself presently he told me he had the same orders & then both parties advanced out clost to the Bank of the River so we could see each other.. they were very well dressed some of them with our uniforms on which they said they got from Qtr Master Banks.. we could not find out much how they felt in regard to the war only they said they were determined to try to gain their Independance..after we had talked about 2 hours we were ordered to move & we bade the Johnies Goodmorning.
(On another sheet) I have told you all that is necessary heretofore about sending those things by John Rader.. you spoke of having Cider and making apple butter & Sugar & I would like to beat home to partake of some of those ere things for we are drawing rather slim rations now adays.. they have been cutting us down we do not draw as much as used to & what we do draw if pretty poor. I have to by considerable from the suttlers to get along Kinder halfway.. Hard tack & Sowbelly are the p[principal articles we draw & they are very poor.. the tack are full of worms & bugs.. those at home that have plenty know but little how we get along away down here. our suttler has on hand a pretty good stock but every thing high.. Lucius Carhart
(On reverse of paper) Potatoes 10 cents per lbs. Onions 15 center per lobs. Soda Crackers25 cents per lbs.. sweet crackers 6-0 center pr lbs butter 75 cents per lbs Cheese 50 cents pr lbs & all other things according.
Direct your letter in this way. Lucius Carhart Co “G” 96th Regt OVI Morganzia La ð 7 3 P.S. We are now in the 19th Corps there is no more 13th Corps Lu Carhart..