Matagorda Island

Fort Esperanza Texas

Decem 5 1863

 

Dear Mother

                        Your kind letter of the 2^ond ult came to hand a few days since and I was verry glad to hear from home and you had not had a letter before for more than three weeks. by the same mail M^r F[?] got a letter from St louis saying that Bro John had lost a son by death which I suppose was Frank as you mention he was quite sick Capt Richards of Barry also rec^d later dates than I and told me M^rs Long was dead life is uncertain and sooner or later we must all leave this world. We found one Regiment of Rebbels here at this Fort strongly fortified but they did not stand long before our superior numbers they evacuated the Fort at night we got five prisoners / and killed one Captain dont know how many wounded of our forces ten were wounded and one killed Our Regiment were not in the engagement I was detailed with my company from the Regt to go with the skermishers the first day and engage the enemy also one Company from each of the four remaining Regts of our Brigade we had three wounded in skermishing were on a large level sandy plain or prarie and had no protection from their fire. the Rebbels had some fine large guns as we advanced they threw a 13 inch shell which struck about 20 yards in front of my company and bounded over us striking about the same distance in our rear where it exploded no one hurt I had just ordered my men to lay down when I saw the smoke of the cannon we remained under / fire fire all afternoon and were ordered back to the Regiment in the evening Lieut Fifer AA Gen^l of our Brigade was wounded when he brought us orders to fall back. All my company behaved well it is indeed a trying time and nothing but patriotism and a sence of duty could urge men up to the point. I dont like the climate of Texas if we have had a fair sample changes to sudden and great. I never suffered as much in my life as since we have been here. we have no transportation have to carry all our bedding provision &c and then cold rainy nights without any protection set very hard still my health is good and I think I can stand it as long as any of them but I shall be verry glad when the war is over / we are now stopping in little sod huts covered with our rubber blankets which are decidely comfortable compared with out doors when the north wind comes. I have just got out of P.O. stamps and shall have to frank this though I think I have some back in my valise if it ever comes up will be glad to hear from you often the boys are generally well. L^t W Parks is at NOrleans sick I fear he will never get well

                                                           

my love to all

                                                                       

Your son

Isaac G Hodgen

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