Nov 2 PM. & M 1863

 

            Dear Wife I will write you a few more lines this evning it is very warm drizzled rain a little last night but blew to day There was a man shot to day a mile or two below here he belonged to Walkers division of the army he deserted & tried to get to the enemy they cached him and shot him to day a good many of the boys went down to se him shot I did not go as I did not wish to see it & I hope I may never see another person shot. well I will tell you where we are we are camped at the same place we were when I last wrote to you & the same place where I wrote to you the letter before that I have written two letters here at this place besides this but perhaps you have not got either of them we are encamped on Bayou Beth some 40 miles below Alexandria the federals followed us to Alexandria Washington & it is said they are falling back again how true I cannot say as to news I have very little it is reported that Brag has gained an other great victory over Rosencrans & I am inclined to think it is so our piquets keep bringing in prisoners evry day or two 15 & 20 at a time it is said that two of our boys that belonged to this company have been taken prisoners by the feds. they were left at washington to wait on the sick & wounded we have but 13 men present in the company now & I do not expect it will increase much as some more have deserted & gone home some are off sick some have got sick furloughs some on detached service so they are nearly all gone people are getting tired of fighting I think myself it is a poor business & would like very much myself to come home but there is no chance to get a furlough now & I cant get off any other way just now so I cant promise you when I will be at home but you may sure of one thing that I want to come bad enough well you said you had just got your piece of jeans out & was ready to make my clothing well I think you have done finely this summer more / than I had an idea of more than most any body else & your flannel I very glad you have that too as to clothing though I have not much room to grumble I have plenty except pants & socks. Shirts I have enough I will want a pr of shoes after a while them I can draw as to pants I can get them some how other I think they have them here to sell evry now & then & perhaps we may draw some so you can use the most of your cloth for yourself & children.

 

Dougherty had not got in a day or two ago it looks like he is trying to stay away a good while

 

Nov^r 3 we received orders to be ready to start at a at a minutes warning this morning so I had better finish my letter news this morning that Gen Green has run the feds out of Opelousas & pursuing them closely no other news now Clark Loring is here & well I do not know which way we will start from here Scruggs started a letter home yesterday morning by hand Give Jess & matilda my love & respects tell Jess I am sorry he went in to the service as it leaves our families in bad circumstances but we do a heap these times we dont like tell him to do the best he can for us & I hope it will all come right after the war is over well I must bring my letter to a close & hope by the mercy of an over ruling providence it may find you and all yours in the enjoyment of good health good spirits & a good hope for the future & may live so that if we should not again meet on this earth that we may meet in a better world than this I want you to pray for me sometimes I was glad to learn yesterday that Laura Scruggs had joined the church also John Downard So no more at present but remain your afectionate husband

 Thomas W Johnson

 

M. E. Johnson                                                                                    

SOURCES