Matagorda Island Texas

May 7^th 1864  

 

Dear Sister Parna.

                        Yours of Jan 21^st has been answered several times I yesterday received one from Father dated Feb 21^st. (nearly 3 months old)

 

I intercepted the Baton Rouge mail at New Orleans and took Co "L"s mail out, and found one letter for myself from F. Bates. I yesterday on arriving here found a letter from Burr Crist, Cousin Jane Crist now M^cElroy one from Plainfield all dated in Feb except F. Bates's. So you may guess how a letter looks to us. I left here the 17^th of April, went to New Orleans from there to Baton Rouge and arrived back here yesterday the 6^th. I was very sick crossing the Gulf each way You know nothing of sea sickness and I cannot describe it but the solid ground rocks to & fro for several hours after leaving the vessel / My head feels very light today. I was sick during the time I was away with a bad cold & cough. I wrote Father from New Orleans Sunday May 1^st. father in his letter wishes to know why I am away down here. whether I am undergoing punishment or have I been reduced. I never told him why before because I had not been mustered as Lieut and did not crave the position I did not want to leave the place I had to accept this, but as our Lt Col. Hays—our particular friend sent me a commission I could not refuse with a very good face the commission reads—To serve during the period for which said regt was brot into the service—3 years—which I suppose ended next July, but no one, Officer or private, is mustered now for less than 3 years. So you can set me down for 3 years from the 18^th of last November. Some people look on a commission as a big thing but I never could see it. the higher the rank the more responsibility. there are 4 Lieuts in each co., 2 1^st & 2 2^nd / I am 3^d, or Sen. 2^d. Our Capt is now back again to the co. 1^st Lt Card has been quite sick but is getting better. the co is quite healthy. nearly all the white troops have been taken away from here & sent up Red River. there are quite a number of negroe troops here. if the Rebs comes down on us look out for another Fort Pillow. there are 4 white Batteries here.

 

Please tell Father to call at the express office & get a book (which ought to be there). Frost's History of the World, a captured book, given to me last summer. Tis said all the Officers of our Regt that didn't go home with the veterans will get to go home this summer or fall I cannot say how it will be. I expect to see you all within a year if the war will admit. We are in hopes to see a change in the Program. there is little or no change on the Island except more grass on the prairies. do not fail to write often to Your Brother

                                                                                   

R H Crist Co "L"

address                                               

1^st Regt Ind Heavy Artillery

New Orleans   La

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