Camp Parapet, near N.O. La.

                                                                                                            April 8^th 1863.

 

            Dear Father and Mother:—

                        I suppose you have wondered why I have not written for so long a time. I left the regimental hospital on the 19^th of March. On the 22^nd an expedition, consisting of our regiment and the 6^th Michigan regiment left camp for up the river. We marched to Hickok’s Landing, on Lake Ponchartrain, about 5 miles from camp, and were put on board schooners chartered for the purpose. We reached the South Pass (a few miles below Madisonville) about 8 o’clock in the evening. Owing to the lateness of the hour we did not land until next morning. /

 

We landed at daylight, in the midst of a heavy rain storm. A horrible sight met our eyes on approaching the shore. Two half-fleshless skeletons lay upon the sand without covering of any kind. I found out afterwards that they were rebels—shot by our Pickets some time ago from the opposite side of the pass; not daring to cross over to bury them they let them lay where they fell. Captain Agnus calling for volunteers to go on in advance of the main body—I volunteered and was accepted along with some five or six others. It was rather a ticklish business for us to advance in the enemy’s country nearly half a mile from the rest of the / regiment—but it was necessary to do so to prevent the enemy from suddenly surprising us. We had proceeded about 3 miles when we spied a body of men coming down the railroad—but whether a large or small body we could not determine. We immediately deployed as skirmishers on each side of the track, and commenced firing. The moment we fired a man fell—and the rest raised a flag of truce. We immediately loaded our rifles and started towards them; as we neared them we perceived that there was only about one dozen in all. They were without fire-arms and told us that they were friends—but we took them prisoners and carried them before Col. Smith who put a guard over them. /

 

Walking up the rail-road we suddenly came upon two schooners loaded with cotton hid in the woods. Upon investigation we found that they were in a small bayou which flowed from Lake Marabar. We put a guard on them and sent them to the South Pass. That night we laid down to sleep on the railroad. We started next morning for a village named Ponchatoula situated on the New Orleans and Jackson Rail Road—on which we were travelling. We advanced within about three miles of the village when our advance guard were fired upon by the rebels. Capt. Agnus immediately sent a reinforcement—myself amongst them—/ to support them, making an advance guard of sixteen men in all. There was quite a force opposed to us—as we found out afterwards that there was 120 cavalry hid in the woods. They tied their horses out of range of our rifles, and fought us from behind trees. This was my first skirmish, and I felt rather nervous at first—but that soon wore away and I “blazed away” as fast as any of them. Considerable surprize was expressed by the skirmishing party that no re-inforcements were sent from the regiment to support us Suddenly the rebels made a charge—which caused us to fall back upon the regiment. We had only three men wounded in this skirmish. /

 

The 6^th Michigan regiment we left behind at the South Pass, as they intended to get around to Ponchatoula by another route. As soon as they got near the village they were to fire three heavy guns. About 2 o’clock the long-expected signal was heard; our regiment immediately started. About one mile from the place we espied a body of men coming down the road bearing a flag of truce. Col. Smith sent two of the officers and a squad of men to find out what it meant. It proved to be a detachment of the 6^th Michigan, sent out to inform us that Ponchatoula was taken. This information rather disappointed the “Zou-zous” as they thought to have a nice little fight with the rebels—but the cowardly devils did / not wait for us. In their haste to skedaddle they left everything behind them. Our boys were very soon plundering the houses. Poor me!—all I got was part of a canteen of molasses. But I very soon revenged myself by cutting the throat of a hog which three of us captured after a short but exciting race. We had had nothing to eat for near 24 hours so the boys went foraging for a supper. I here give you a list of what we brought in: (Co. A I mean). There were only 62 of us and we had between us for a supper: 4 large hogs, 5 geese, 13 ducks, about 20 hens, 8 doz. eggs, 2 bushels of sweet potatoes, 2 bushels corn meal and 250 lbs. smoked bacon; of course it was not all eaten. The bacon we cut up and packed away in our haversacks for future use. The / next afternoon (Wednesday) we were suddenly ordered to retreat. The men did not seem to like this much—as they had made up their minds to have a good time for a few days. We marched back three miles from the village—just beyond the scene of the skirmish of the previous day. We there erected a barricade, formed of rail-road ties or sleepers; the work was performed by about 100 negroes sent with the expedition for that purpose.—

 

The next day a small 20 pounder rifled gun was brought up from North Pass and mounted on the barricade. We left three companies of our regiment up in the village as a picket guard—towards night they retreated towards the main body—their outpickets being / driven back by the rebels overwhelming numbers. We expected an attack that night—but the “rebs” did not disturb us. On Saturday we set the barricade, rail-road and woods on fire, and retreated slowly towards North Pass, where we embarked on the transport “General Banks.” We entered Camp Parapet Saturday night after an absence of two weeks.

 

            I nearly forgot to mention that young Tucker was one of the wounded. He was lying besides me when a bullet passed in front of my face and struck him in the back of the neck, passing out at the right shoulder blade making a serious flesh wound. I heard the ball strike and rolled over and / asked who was struck. Tucker replied that he was and jumped up and ran a few paces towards the regiment, then fell; he immediately got up and retreated amidst a shower of bullets—the rebels seeing him quite distinctly as he arose; it is a wonder that he was not struck again as we were only about 700 yards from the rebels. When we jumped up to retreat about 60 or 70 rebels were coming down upon our small party of 13 with a rush. In our haste to skedaddle (for who would not, under the circumstances) three of us fell in a ditch. I was up to my waist in mud and water—and finding that my India-rubber blanket and over-coat were an encumbrance—I quickly threw them off. I then managed to get out, / but I had to run like the mischief, which was rather a difficult job with my wet petticoats. The rebels fired volley after volley at us—but fortunately not a man was struck.

 

            Yesterday we had a grand dress parade in New Orleans. The general opinion prevailed there that the Zouaves got considerably cut up during the retreat from Ponchatoula—and many a dark look greeted us as we passed through the city. I suppose the “Secesh” felt disappointed to find out that the report was incorrect for they hate us like the very devil.

 

            I have received two packages of papers from you since March 1^st.

 

            I have not heard from / you for about a month—what is the matter?

 

            Since our return I have enjoyed most excellent health, and I hope I shall continue to do so. I think the march up the Jackson Railroad has done me a world of good.

 

            Tell John that he may show himself without fear—as our Provost guard under Lieut Fox of Co. A, have reported here for duty.

 

            There! I have written you a tolerably long letter—and I must close. Although the date of this letter is the 8^th I am now finishing it on the 16^th.

 

            Give my love to the children and remember me to all who enquire after

                                                                                                Your Affectionate Son

How do James and                                                                                          George

William agree?

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