Bayou Lafourche near

Thibadeux Lousianna

Jan 12^th 1863                                                                                                  

 

Dear Wife

Since I last wrote you we have had to be on the moove a good deal so I have not written as [faded] often as I should otherwise

 

            We staid in camp Mansfield at Carrollton about 10 days nothing of importance occurring there so I shall not say much about that place more than I have

 

            Last Wednesday we got orders to march and go to Thibadeux that is where I write this from we went aboard of a boat and went to New orleans & landed at Agiers there we took the cars about 10 Oclock at night we got within 3 miles of this place about 3 oclock in the morning the rest of the men nearly all but 3 or four beside myself came right to camp then marched up here but I staid & came up in a wagon with the baggage so I had a ride all [faded, paper fold] there are about 4000 in camp here with 3 batterys of Artillery Yesterday the 75 NY Volunteers had orders to march to Berwick Bay about 40 miles from here to repulse some Rebels that were crossing there this morning our regiment was ordered to [faded] they started about 10 oclock this morning I was again left in charge of the companys tents & there is 15 of our Regt with me the Batterys and all of the other regiments have gone to the same place this after noon so that there is but few left here now We just heard that the 75 NY Volunteers that left yesterday have been drove back 5 miles. also that our folks have taken Vicksburg if the 75 have been drove back there will be some sharp fighting there to day when the men all get there. We have just had orders here to take down our tents and pack up ready for a start as we suppose for New Orleans where we expect the rest of the men will come to when they get through at the Bay

 

When we left New Carrollton we left Wes Drake there in the hospital to take care of Benny Vaughn and one other of our boys that was sick with the mumps John Vandusen is sick in the hospital here now his kidneys are affected But I do not think that it will be a very serious matter if he does not get cold he is going with us to the city to the general hospital George Cook has been quite sick but he is nearly well now The general health of the men of our company is good the sickness mostly is disentary. I have not yet had to call on the doctor for a dose of anything Some [?] is good yet French shirks as usual but eats enough for two men We have when we are in camp good living and enough of it I have not yet eat all that I have draw so I have sold

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