Avoilels Parish La. June 4^th 1863

 

            Dear wife I embrace this opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know where I am at this time & how I am getting along we are camped now at a bridge called long Bridge about thirty miles from Alexandria on a small stream called Bayou Deglaze six miles from where we was camped when I wrote my last letter to you we left the morning after I left wrote & came to this place stopped & cooked three days rations and marched on to a place called Simsport eighteen miles from here on the Atchafalaya (pro Chafalya) Bayou or by oo where there had been a boat passed the day before fortified with cotton bales it was supposed she would pass back that night & we were stationed on the bank of the river to shoot at the men on the boat as she passed along and to keep them from loading their cannons while our batteries would play upon them from behind the levy & fortifications but she did not come and next day about six Oclock in the evening we started back for this place with the exception of four companies who staid to watch for the boat we arrived in camp next morning about 7 oclock yesterday the gun boat came down and passed about half way through & wheeled & put back I suppose it was getting to hot for her & she didnt know how far down our forces extended there was no one hurt on our side dont know whether any on the boat or not they never fired their cannon but once Speight's artillery started down ther last night I think they are looking for some of the iron clads but I do not know where banks army is at now it is reported that he has been badly whiped also that we whiped them out at Vicksburg also that England & France have declared war against the United States whether they consider us included or not I dont know. Some thinks the war will be at and end before long others think not as to my part I am not making any calculations about it as I am in for the war any how though I would rather have peace I think that it is the calculation for us to stay at this place a while we have moved camp since I began this letter out of the bottom on to higher land we are now camped in thick timber well shaded though ground is to flat for wet weather it is getting very dry down here now & I expect worse dryer in your country there is plenty of the Magnolia timber here which is about as pretty a tree as grows it has a very dark thick foliage heavy leaves & forms a beautiful / shade in the spring they are covered with a large white flower the most of the flowers have fallen off now there is but few apples raised in this country a good many peaches crops of corn looks fine no wheat or oats cotton looks tolerable well some sugar cane growing though some of that will not be attended to on account of the negroes being taken off I see a good many farms laying open wher the Feds have burnt up the fencing left the corn & sugar cane standing out it is about 8 or 10 miles from here to the mouth of red river & about 60 to Port Hudson the boys are all well in camp pretty much some few have the diarrhea which I have had slightly along myself with the exception of that I have no room to complain of bad health only in marching I get sore in the legs & feet Bennett Scruggs has not come up yet dont know how he is we left two of our men sick at natchitoches

 

My Dear wife I hardly know what to write to you if I could hear from you & know how you was & how you was doing then I would know more what to write to you. there are letters come in nearly evry day for some of the boys but none for me you hardly know how bad I want to hear from you you certainly have written once a week since I left and I have received none I recon when they do come I will get them all at once be sure to direct your letters to Co^m I Hawpes Reg^mt Speight's Brig^de Alexandria Lou^is & they will come to me Walkers division that Doughertys Co^m was in have gone to vicksburg

 

I have not drawed any money since I left home & dont when I will we should have drawed a month ago it is said they have money to pay off the Brigade but dont do it there are upwards of two hundred dollars due me now I want you to write to me what they are doing with these men that have deserted & the conscripts the prices of things &c. what the indians are doing where our men are stationed &c tell Jess & Matilda I would like to see them very much but as I cant come up just now I would like they would write me a few lines tell Eddy that he must be a good boy & learn his lessons well & try how much he can learn against I get home & I will bring him a pretty book when I come tell Johny that the old feds are so bad that I cant come home yet & he must learn the pictures against I get home tell Willie to do as he pleases & Pa will have to whip him & now my dear all I can say to you now is to do that you think best & receive my love to you & the children & may God in his infinite goodness & mercy reward you for the same from your affectionate F Husband & Father                                                      

Thomas W. Johnson

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