Loel C. Hakes to Elizabeth Hakes, 21 June 1863
            20
nom     19
Baton Rouge June the 21/63
 
            Dear Lib I have a little sad news to write this time I got a slight wound in the foot I had my 4 toe takeing off on my right foot I recieved too letters from you the 10 and they was affle good ones the no was 15 & 16 I have got all of your letters we had ben on picket the 9 the 11 we was orderd up at three oclock and the hole line throwd out skirmish our co did not go out co G went out I sepose it was intended to draw thear artillry fire so our men could shell them out but they are cuning they dont youse there artillry eny more bot they did pore the rifle bollits in affle fast bot they went over our heads jest before daylight it raned affle hard and we was orderd back and it did not mount to nothing and some of the reg soferd a hevy loss I want well eny of this time dear I could not eat bot if a man dont go they will say he is a courd so I kep up the 14 dear you will see in your almanac it was sunday we was orderd up agane at three oclok I was affle sick I could not hardly stand up bot I told the capt I would go as far as I could and I made up mind if I started I would not fall out well dear we went abought too mild to / the left we intended to cary the rebels brest works that day well when we got there we went in a road our men had dug along onder bogs this road was made in the night dear it was a long a ravene so a reg could go in this road and get clost up to thear works after we got to the end of the we was was exposed to a affle fire there was lots coming out that was wounded some would curs and sware and some could not say eny thing they was bringing out men on stretchers they could not walk I knew our time would come purty soon there was a perfick rattle of moskitry we crouded on we come whare we could see the brest works and then we had to ron to get there abought 10 rods I was to the hind end of the co billy watters and the capt was behind me the co was a good wayes a head I started on a ron and then the ball took my boot of I did not see the capt nor billy go by me I see I was shot right threw the roots of the too and threw it want very bad so I went up to the / to the bank and shot a few rounds and I was so sick I went back a peace and laid down and dear I did not wake up till in the night and I got up and traveld out a peace till some men carid me on a stretcher to a docter his name was king he was a eastern man they dident give us eny thing to eat bot they had ice watter I dident think of seeing ice there we come out to the boat the 17 I rode in a coverd bugy it was 12 mild there was a place in the woods abought half way down they give evry wounded man a glas of ice leomonade and a peace of bread and botter I tell you dear that did tast good we got down to the landing and staid all night in the morning I come down hear they was going to take us to new orleans bot there had som rebel garilles got in below us so we stoped here we dont fare very well bot I guess we will after they get things fixed up I feal some better then I did I was atacted with the feaver I hope I shall brake it up the docter ses he can there is a boat leaves newerleans for new york today and one leaves the 27 and I will finish this letter / tomorow dear lib I haint got my ridacule it is in the woods and my paper and postege stamps is in it and I haint got only a doller and I cant wright very often bot I can wright some as quick as I can get so I can walk on crotches I shall get a pass and go to newerleans and see lant spicer I dont think if I have good lock my foot will heal up so I can walk and do duty in six monthes dear lib I think I was very lockey the way the bollits flew there is no grait loss bot what there is some small gane I shall get red of some affle hard fighting dear lib it is a hard place to take there has got to a meny a good man loose his life before them brest works is carid how meny ove our boyes is wounded I cant lern there is too here out of our reg the rest has gone to new orleans or ny as I can lern there is 30 kild and wounded in our left wing that is a good meny for half of a reg to loose I sepose abe will right home meby before you get this they did not / know I was wounded and the docters wouldent send me to my reg and I guess the boys thought I was kild bot I am a goodeal better of than that I will have a good time when I get so can walk around on crotches what do you think abought it dear lib we had bean soop for diner and soft bread our bread is very poor dear lib you nead not right so often till I get it fixed so I can get the letters the letters will all go to the reg and I wont get them onless there is a man coming hear as quick as I can go on crotches I can get a pass and go and get my letters and come back as / quick as port Hodson is takeing I can get the letters then. Good morning Dear Lib I thought last night when I stoped writeing I should write more before night bot I did not I feal purty good this morning and I hope these few lines will find my dear wife and doughter injoying good helth I have got up and washed and combed my hare and I will finish this letter know dear lib I thought I would write a little on one of your old letters I had five or six in my pocket and I found this want wrote on so I thought I would write a few lines more them sheets of paper you sent extry in your letter com very handy the sheet I send in this letter is the last one dear Lib you wanted to know what I don with your letters dear lib I hate to burn them up bot I cant cary them all so I have to burn sum of them up dear Lib there shant no body see your letters but me I sepose the folks is fixing for a great forth there haint they dear lib I should like to bee there and take my dear wife I would take her for the first time I guess I want you should write all abought the forth tell mee hoo des patredge goes with I dont think that des felt so bad as she made for dear Lib I think kate bosted her self where she thought you took up with her leavings that tickeld me kate is a good girl bot she would not suit me so well as the one I have got we wont mind abought that I hope kate will doo well and tell rozillia to be a good girl and keep her nose clean this is all give my love to mother and father and all of my friends dear lib I dont think you had better write very soon nor very often till I can get your letters I will write and tell you so good by From your tru and loving Hosbond to my dear wife Lib. L C Hakes
 
[portion of letter from Lib Hakes]
 
of blossoms and if there is a cherry to ever blow blossom there will be half a bushel of cherries I hope you and abe will be here to have some to eat when they are ripe mother has got supper most ready and I shall have to close I have not wrote to Mother Hakes yet for I have been waiting to get a letter from you I shall write sunday if I dont get a letter I have look at your old picture till there is not much left to look at and I hope you will send me a new one to look at if you dont come home dear loel I kiss your pictures ever day but it dont seem much like kissing my dear husband after all but it dose me some good I guess I shall have to close for this time for mother sayes supper is ready I wish you was here to eat with me for we have got some custard and bread and butter and pumpkin pie and I think that will be a rairety to you good night write sone and remember your loving wife accept this from your affectnate wife with much love and many kisses Lib Hakes
 
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dear loel write ever chance you have if it haint more than two lines
8208
DATABASE CONTENT
(8208)DL1419.013116Letters1863-06-21

Tags: Amputations, Artillery, Death (Military), Fighting, Food, Guns, Homecoming, Hospitals, Illnesses, Injuries, July 4th, Love, Mail, Medicine, Photographs, "Rebels" (Unionist opinions of), Weather

People - Records: 2

  • (3022) [recipient, writer] ~ Hakes, Loel C.
  • (3023) [recipient, writer] ~ Hakes, Elizabeth ~ Hamilton, Elizabeth

Places - Records: 1

  • (83) [origination] ~ Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

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SOURCES

Loel C. Hakes to Elizabeth Hakes, 21 June 1863, DL1419.013, Nau Collection