Dec^r 8^th 1863              

 

            Dear Wife I avail myself of this opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am in the enjoyment of very good health at this time & hope these lines may find you in the enjoyment of the same great blessing I have but little news of interest to write to you I wrote you a letter on the 24^th ult then we were camped on Old river near the mouth of red river Since then we have been on the march nearly evry since & are now camped about three miles above the battleground on Bayou Fordoche there are no yankees there now there is none this side of the Mississippi close about here that we know of. we are in three miles of the river & keep one Regt out on picket all the time near the river they we also have Artillery placed there to annoy their transports yesterday evning there was heavy firing but I have not learned the result yet I do not know how long we will stay here we have bridgs built across the Chafalia three hundred yards long on the water it said the feds are fortifying at New Iberia we have news that Brag has whipped Gen Thomas again but news is very uncertain now we also have news here that Banks has been repulsed in texas I hope it is so I do not se any prospect of getting to come home yet. I fear it will be a good while yet you may be assured that I will come as soon as I can I thought I would have come got a letter yesterday but it did not come 

 

Our train & knapsack are not with us yet nor wont be as long as we stay on this side of the Chafalia. I want you to write to me what you are doing or rather what you do do if you move or if you do not as I want to know where to write to you we have some very cold weather here for this country & rainy which makes it disagreeable I have a small hope that we will have peace this winter may God in his mercy send it the boys are generally well Scruggs & James Downard are both here & well Clark Loring is well & saucy as ever. write to me if you get any news more news from Ed Milt. I have nothing more of interest to write to you. I want you do as you think best tell Eddy he must be a good boy & learn as much as he can while am gone kiss the children for me. Give my respects to enquiring friends Give my respects to Jess & family & tell me about them so Sending you my love & respects from your afectionate Husband

                                                                                               

Thomas. W. Johnson

 

We had a warm meeting here last night several mourners up you will please excuse this pencil writing as I have a bad chance to write & just writing to let you know that I am well. yours in Love

SOURCES