Camp Desolate. De Crow's Point Texas

December 30^th 1863         

      

Dear Father

                        Happening to have a few moments of leasure, and thinking perhaps that by the time this will reach you, you will be wondering why your boy don't write I, viz. Companies "L" and "M" and myself left Baton Rouge the 17^th of Dec. went to New Orleans, and there immediately received orders to embark on board the Steam Ship Clinton for this place. Co. "L" there received 4 Parrott guns 30 pounders and on Sunday 20^th we started and after a very pleasant ride of 50 hours we arrived here. by looking on some atlas map or sich you will see Pass Cavallo, the entrance to Mattagordo Bay. Indianola Port Lavaca, &c. Our troops are stationed on the point of the long peninsula and on the island. you see each side of the pass We, Co "L" are on the Peninsula. it is as desolate a place as Ship Island. Except several thousand sheep and a few cattle up 5 or 6 more miles there are some 15 or 20 000 troops and it has been decided that the climate does not agree with sheep I suppose judging by the number of pelts we see scattered all around There is no wood growing on the Peninsula. we have to gather drift from the South east shore. I was out yesterday with a train after wood we went some 7 or 8 miles the sand next the water is very hard. a horse hardly leaves the print of his shoe. it is nearly level and is one of the prettyest drives imaginable. the shore is strait / A few wandering Rebs call down this way occasionally to look after us, but we are in no danger from any force. The land is but little above high tide (4 or 6 feet) tide raises from 2 to 9 feet along the south east shore. Some 40 yards from the water there is high banks of sand (20 feet high) caused by sand drifting like snow it lies in heaps instead of ridges the grass grows on it and holds and accumulates sand. the rest or other side is level with a spare growth of wild grass, dry wiry & salty & sandy, large patches of prickly pear  it is from ¾ to 2 miles wide. An old chap did and does live here he owned sheep and cattle enough to make Odd Job ashamed. his nice house is now occupied as Gen'ls Head Quarters I found another small house up some 7 miles the other day, with a woman and several children, a fishermans wife I suppose she must have a lonesome time of it.

 

You probably ask what we are here for. We might ask too, but hardly think it worth while to spend the breath. A soldier soon gets so he waits for orders and lets waits for his information. We suppose this expedition is to get in the rear of Galveston. this is mostly composed of the 13^th Army Corps the 13^th and 15^th Maine and—us (Co "L")—of the 19^th Army Corps are here Most of the troops are Iowa Ills & Ind Regts some Wisconsin some Missouri Kentucky Ohio. I have been looking for some one I knew, but thus far have failed. can find men from Naperville Lockport, below West Liberty Galesburg, they all know men I know I have never yet seen a man in the army I ever knew before the war broke out (except Jo Pettingal). this company I am with are all new recruits except 2 Lieutenants they—the Co came from Ind in August. You may judge I am lonesome. I went down last night on the Steamer St Mary and found some last winter acquaintances (Brashear City) got a good supper and some oranges, also a N.Y. paper 18^th, free / There is little or nothing here for either Officers or men to eat except hard tack (Pilot Bread) salt pork & beef—& mutton. No potatoes. to day I got some flour & sugar for the first also a ham.

 

They are moving troops up to Indianola and Port Lavaca transportation is very scarce by water. Port Lavaca is where Mr Sayre lived (of Lockport). where I started for 4 years ago last Sept; when Parna and Mother asked me how long I was going to be gone when I wanted shirts made, I told them long enough to wear them out—and—I am not back yet. "When this cruel war is over"—I will send Lee a parody on that song. also the Song of all Songs, talking of music. There are several infantry regts here all well supplied with fife and drums, and we have the most eternal din (Ship Island excepted) anybody (you) ever heard. there is one brass band here.

 

I spent my Christmas here, eat my dinner on board the Steam Ship Clinton, and had roast turkey, think of that.

 

There is a young man here clerk in Post Commissary that used to clerk for George Dyer, with Wint Wrights boys at Pilot Knob his name is Bellon from near Naperville. he gave me a history of my friend Mrs Bobby Bales. I believe I have wrote about everything except the weather, well here is where we have weather, as is weather. Several days warm and pleasant, then comes a "Norther" it is awful piercing we had a young norther a few days ago, but they tell hard tales. I have heard before of Texas Northers. it freezes men to death 2 or 300 miles north of this in Texas. And this is no good place for "Sich" and no wood. the 15^th Maine was here through one and had no tents they dug holes in the sand and covered them with hides and called them She Bangs—she spoke quick and the Bang. emphasised. Good enough for them. they have been in the service as long as us and never fired a gun / the 22^d Iowa is here 77^th Ills the Chicago Commercial Battery arrived last night. There is some talk of our Co remaining here till the Rebs make a stand and then have us move up with our siege guns to shell them out. we have 1200 rounds of ammunition along. 84 mules & 7 horses, 120 men.

 

but I must close as tis after nine Oclock and tomorrow is muster day, (and there will be none of this in the morning ) (P[?])

 

The Head Quarters of the regt is now at New Orleans

 

Please give my compliaments to the friends of Durant, and write soon to your son

                       

Address                      

R H Crist. (C^o "L")

1^st Regt Ind Artillery.

New Orleans. La.

 

[pencil note sideways]

 

Jan 6^th. Mail not gone. We are now enduring another Norther. colder than ____ ever. more sand in our soup, tents wet & froze stiff. we lay in bed 14 hours per day our 1^st Lieut has resigned and now going home.

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