Headquarters, 1st
9th Vermont Battery March
9th Franklin, L.A.
Mr Caryl, Dear
sir I seat my self to let you know how we do. Well Aram & my self are siting in our little shanty for it rains like the old nick this afternoon We are as well as when we left home We have not been round a great deal yet We are some 80 or 90 miles from New Orleans the vilage where We now are is about like north Wallingford for size the river are well suplied with the cused snakes & oligators they are the most staple products of the Watter & the yellow leged galls are the greatest go/ here Well anough of the fooling now Mr Caryl I want you to make me a pair of calf Boots good ones I would like them on your new lasts no. 5 raised prety well in the insteps and Wide on the Ball & toe prety long legs one [?] & at tap under grover is on his way home and he can fech them back with him he & Solon Crowley has reinlisted and the eighth is gone to the city to go home I want that if the folks sends any thing to me they should put it in with the boots then they will come right to us. please excuse me for this time I will send you the money as soon as I am payed off we expect to get pay every day
from Lawson E B/
Mar 9/64
Dear friends I take this time to let you know that my health was never better we ar a right smart Pace from home we was in Cypress citty three weeks then we had orders to march And hear we be in front our pickets Fetch rebs evry day we expect to Pack on up red river verry soon I come up to frankling last Friday Found N S Crowley & B Grover They are on they way home
I want a paire calf boots taps on the inside A [?] low heal shoes & some Shugar and 5 lbs tobacco same that you use 1/2 a doz knifes and have the Stuff Reddy when Grover comes up except the knives he will pick them out for you I alloted 13 dollars All my monthley pay and want you should git it as ofen as it comes in to the State treasury I expect to be Paid in a few days/
And how all the focks at home our batry consist of six guns 4 3 inch rifle 2 Brase napoleon 5 ind shell 1509 horses & mules 635 men the damdest of names ever I got my head round
the old boys time is out first June and what is goter come of us I dont know tell the childrin and Irene and all the focks keep a stiff upper lip and bi the nail Tell olde tuggy git me out a letter I have got all out of sorts this time
Yours for ever
Direct your letters to
New Orleans first Vermont
Batry Capt Hibbard Aram Caryl
give my love to all who may inquire for me please Write soon yours truly Lawson E Barber