No. 13

                                                                                                            Baton Rouge   Dec 20

 

Dear Mother

                        I put a letter in the office for you yesterday, but I thought I would write a few more words today. It is quite cold here today but very pleasant. we have had it cold here now for three or four days this cold snap. you say I do not nomber my letters right. I knew I made a mistake once or twice after I had nombered them but I thought I would let it go. I believe I wrote to you last spring that I thought Bill Phillips was a little home sick and I see by your last letter that you want me to tell him to keep up good courage thinking I suppose that he might be home sick now, but I dont think he is a bit now he has got better. I dont see him very often, but when I do he appears lively enough I shall be apt to see him and the rest/of the regiment oftener than what I have, for they have moved considerable nearer than what they were. Co. I, the company that has been down to Plaquimine for some time came back this morning, and Lieut Davis that has been with that company is now going to stop with us. he has been assigned as First Lieut of our company for some time, but strange to say although he has always belonged to the regiment, yet I never saw him to know as yet. his trunk was left here when Co. I. came up. I dont like the notion of his coming very well, although he may be a very good officer. I do not like to keep having new officers. I did not think I should like the Lieut that we have got now when he was promoted, but I like him first rate as a Lieut. Our Capt (Hodges) is still away the last we heard from him he was at Brashier city. he is an engineer on some Generals staff. A regimental cart just drove up here and took away Lieut Davis’ things he is not going to stop with us after/all. the Colonel could not spare him away from the regiment. Thursday 24^th, I received a letter from you last night. we got the mail of two of the New York Steamer at once. They say there is a mail on another steamer back of this that we have not got, and I did not know but what I had a letter in it as you write generaly twice a week, but I see by the nombering there is none. The last one was No. 25, and the one before No. 24., there is nothing new nor strange here. I went to the theatre night before last and had a very good time, much better then when I have been before. they played the merry Swiss boy for one play. Tomorrow is Christmas and there is great preperations going on here amongst the citizons. they make a great deal more of Christmas here then they do of Thanksgiving. Eli had one of those circulars sent him, that the town of Hanover sent out to its citizons and I see they are offering tremenduous bounties, but I am afraid for all that, that they will not get the/men and will have to draft. According to the rebel Gen’s proclimation that is out Clinton way, that all persons that live out side of our lines that have taken the oath to our government, must move inside of of the lines before Christmas, or they will be sent to Richmond, and the ones that are fit, to be put in the army there. Tell Frank that Roll Howard has got his discharge. we heard of it last night, and also that we are like to loose Sherbourne as a Corporal (happy event). he is under arrest. the Lieut told him not to leave the house. the cause of his being arrested was while out on patrole with his relief he did not do his duty. there was some of the 3^rd Mass. Cav. down here, and they were tight and raising the devil and bullying him about, and he was afraid to arrest them. We have got two of the big bugs of this place in jail now to look to. one is Martin the superintendant of the deaf and dumb assylum, and the other is Folger a dry goods merchent. About my taking of nights my clothes to go to bed, I have not done it only when I was in the Marine hospital, since I left home                                                             Lewis Josselyn

 

[envelope: Postmark New Orleans Dec 26 ‘63/56^th/Mr. Cyrus Josselyn/West Hanover/Mass.]

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