12 Miles above New Orleans La.

                                                                                 Camp Parapet            May 26^th 62

 

Dear Sister      I will now try to write you a line or two my health is very good and so is that of the company generaly since last I wrote you we have been through many hardships. but have come out all right. you have heard ere this of the glorious capture of Fort Jackson, S^t Philip Caradine and Pike with the great city of New Orleans, we now occupie the town of Carrolton and are in possession of the rebel fortifications here with all of their guns and amunition but very few of the men of this division have been killed in battle a fact for which we are all greatful It is a very hot climate here and our men suffer with the heat/Some of our tents are pitched under orange and fig trees which grow here in abundence. in the gardens I have seen pineapples and banannas growing with the most splendid lillies I ever saw. fruit is not ripe here yet. only some small ones like blackberries &c. New potatoes and cucumbers are plenty for the past 3 weeks. we have just heard of the success of McClellan at Yorktown. the news was very cheering to us. our pickets bring in prisoners every day. deserters from the rebel army. I wish you could see some of the splendid residences of the planters here they live in fine shape. The new Custom house at N.O. will be a truly magnificent building when done the Govt. has spent $3,000,000 on it already and it will cost as much more to finish it. the Stars & stripes/are now floating proudly over it The S^t Charles hotel is also a fine buidling. the streets of the Crescent city are very filthy and poorly paved. it does not compare very favorably with the Northern cities We begin to think that the rebellion is nearly crushed as no enemy seems to oppose our occupation of any point we wish part of Butlers army are at Baton Rouge. the state capital. and there is no doubt that Commodore Farrigut has ere this met Com. Foote on the Mississippi at Memphis or some point in that vicinity the river is open to trade at N.O. and ships are here loading with molasses, sugar & cotten, for the Northern ports. trade will soon commence now. the people here have suffered very much for the nescessaries of life. famine was at the doors of the poor when our/ships of war dropped anchor opposite the city Gen Butler has given out large quantities of provisions to the poor families and has thereby acchieved a greater victory with his beef barrels than he could have done with his bristleing cannon or gleaming Bayonets. I hope this will find you well and all of those so dear to you. see my own dear true wife as often as you can and mother and all of my friends at home. write to me soon as time will permit and direct it

 

            4^th Battery Mass. Vols

            New Orleans La.

                        or elsewhere

tell all that wish to write to direct it as above

 

I am glad that I was able to come out here and give what little aid I could to bring about an honorable peace. have not been homesick since I left but 5 times each varying from 5 to 10 minutes

                        your brother G.W.T.

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