New Iberia La. Nov. the 19^th 63

 

My Dear Mother

                                    I take this opornity to write to you to let you know that I ame well and I hope this will find you the same. we got a mail this morning but I did not get any letters I rec^d two Papers mailed at Lodi Senter about to weeks ago I think they ware from you. we have marched back to New Iberia we are encamped two miles from the Town I do not know how long we will stay here I think we will go back to Brashier that is 50 miles from here the boats runs up this Bayou to New Iberia the Name of the Bayou is Fache /

 

Dear Mother we have Scirmishes with the Rebels every once and a while we are destroying there property we drive off all the catel sheep hogs &c. that blongs to the Rebels and we use there fences for wood and we make every thing look like deslation where they army gose, we have ben drowing they Rebs attention along threw this part of the State While Bankes landed in Texas he landed at Corps Cristy with ten Thousand Troop mostley all mounted men I do not know wheather we will have to go and goin Banks or not. the whather is very fine here now but rather cool nites we have some white frosts I sopose you have quite cold weather in york State by this time. I here that Charleston is burnt down /

 

Dear Mother I waid my self the other day I waid a 160 lbs. so I ame not very thin in fleach. What money I have sent home went thrue safe I will send the reseits in this letter Please keep them all to geather to I return home. we are aloud two Pounds of fresh Beef to a man every day now and plenty of Coffe and hard Bisket we live very well I send my best Respects to Richard and James McIntyre and all my enquring friends Now Dear Mother do not feel onesy about me I know that I ame exposed to danger evrey day but I trust in God and by his help I hope to meat with you agen and if it is not his will for us to meat in this world I hope we will meat in that havenly world where there is / Now war where all is Peace and love No more at presant from your Son William

 

                        To his mother Mary Hasley

 

                        Co E 161^st Reg^t NYSV

                        Bankes Expedition

                        New Orleans La.

 

 

P.S. If you see any of uncle Johns folks tell them I send my respects to them and tell them to write     W^m. M. B

SOURCES