Pass Cavallo Texas Feb 12^th /64

 

Dear Father

                                    Not being very busy today I thot perhaps a few lines from this part of America might be acceptable to read after you got your team put up I have no news to write since I wrote last. we still remain quiet on this point of land. Many of the troops have moved across the Bay to a small town called Powderhorn. two of our guns have been taken across. we were in hopes they would send the other two and us with them but we hear no sich good news. The weather has moderated and we are enjoying very fine weather we have had no rain since about the 10^th of Jan and but little then and I have no idea how long since it has rained or when it will. the water in our wells (holes about 4 feet deep) is very salty, and tastes very strong of sulphur in the Bay when the tide is out we find a black clay soft and very much resembling wet powder. it smells very strong of sulphur the Bay is very shallow for ½ mile from each beach. A man can wade / nearly ½ a mile the water in the Gulf and all the bays from Florida west are all shallow. that was the trouble with our gunboats at Sabine Pass, and last winter we lay aground in Atchafalay Bay and let the Rebs get away from Brashear City. We have had several vessels wrecked at Aransas Pass. And there is no knowing how many more will be before this cruel war is over. The harbor at Mobile is very shallow. there is a narrow pass to get in, the Rebs have that full of torpedoes and plenty of cannon to protect the pass. I learn our forces are about moving on Mobile whether they will go by land or water I have not heard. Maj Gen E.O.C. Ord commands this 13^th A Corps Maj Gen^ls Dana and Washburn are here also Brig Gen^ls Benton of Ind and Ransom of Ills. we have not troops enough to venture into the interior and how long we may have to wait is uncertain, but probably till the 1^st of April, as a great many of the troops have joined the Veterans and gone home on a 60 days furlough. Some 500 of our Regt have gone home. Several Regts have gone from here. we are a little suspicious that the Rebs will take the advantage of so many troops going home and make a break on us but we must take our chances. I received a Chicago Tribune giving an act of that big storm of New Years thank you it was quite interesting / I sometimes think I will never allow myself to be caught up so far north in winter it is some time since I saw any snow. we had a little in Baltimore but I suffered more with cold during the cold spell the first of Jan than I have suffered in some time I think I wrote you It froze ice one inch thick tents wet and froze stiff cracking and snaping Old tents blew down & to pieces Soldiers had no wood or fire to keep warm by many of them were out of bread flour or coffee & sugar for 4 days Several niggers froze their feet. the wind came howling across the Bay and the peninsula being level and but just above the water you may imagine how it come but you never can know how it seems till you live in a tent and cook out doors in uncovered vessels & dishes, a dirty nigger to cook, him froze to death shivering around, to lazy to clean anything. but I have told you this tale often enough you suppose. We have recd mail but once since we left Baton Rouge, then a man of our Co bro't it from N.O. we are obliged to wait till some one in NO belonging to our Regt sends them to us. It is some satisfaction to know we have friends to write to us but when we do not get a mail for a month we realize our situation. this state of things will probably exist till next July, as our Regt cannot well be together and we do not remain with one division long enough to give us an address /

 

I am thinking pretty strongly of quitting the service next July as I think 3 years at a time will do me very well. there is a great many things transpires that is not so agreeable. Still I hardly relish the idea of going to work on a farm. I think I must have a hedge put out on that land I call mine up in Black Hawk. Please write and let me know what time it should be done, what it will probably cost How those hedge fences does, whether they last, freeze out, stop cattle. Have you any &c. &c. How many stores, churches dwellings &c in Durant is there much open prairie about Durant. How large is Wilton How is our friends Waltons, Dom. Sterns, H Hollister and those old maids at the grove, I forget their name. Pinquey. &c. &c. oh yes Hanson. Has the RR Co. built culverts where those piling was drove along the road, do they keep up fences along the road. Do you ever hear from M^cBarclay & family or James. I do not.

 

            I wrote to T R Hunter to send you some money to pay the taxes on that land of mine I suppose you have the number I have not heard from Det in some time. I had a letter from Burr Crist, he with Thomas and Uncle Blake are at Ramsey Ky. Burr thinks the west does not agree with him. I have not heard from Plainfield since Jan 4^th, Morris Siver complains of poor crops of corn and soldiers coming home to vote. Morris is rather venimous, but the time is fast coming when those Copperheads will have to hunt their hole and may they call the mountains & rock &c. these veterans going home will make some of them look wild. Some of the Lockport boys say there is a great many Copperheads in Lockport. I have learned a great deal about affairs in Lockport and vicinity. My health is very good I have had sore eyes for some time. it is very disagreeable but they are getting better. we cannot get reading matter or I might keep them sore for some time yet. N.Y. papers cost .15 to .25 cents apiece.

 

there have I not tried hard to fill this sheet—Hoping to hear from you soon I remain very respectfully Your Son

           

Address                      

R H Crist. C^o "L"

(be particular)            

1^st Regt Indiana Heavy Artillery

New Orleans

La.

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