Camp Roman. Near. Carrelton

                                                                                                Dec. the 22^d 1861

 

My dear Nole!

                                    I wrote to you on the 14^th Inst asking you to write to me, to Care of Ben, about the horse. I am afraid the letter miscarried, else I would have had a reply before this. For greater certainty, I will repeat. If you have not already closed the trade with Vaughan for his Gray & if you M^cGehee & others of my generous friends have not made me a present of Jeff Davis, please write to Mr Harper so that he can buy for me one of several horses I called his attention to.—

 

            We have been here a week tomorrow. Our position is a great improvement on Camp Moore, especialy about the nose. Beside we are delivered from the pittish old man Gen Tracey. But we must not speak evil of our rulers & as you know the old fellow, comment is unnecessary.

 

            Cousin Sam Shackelford came out with Benny day before yesterday and spent several hours & took super with us. he is a nice fellow & promised to send me a Bl. of hams of his saving. I wish he had / loaned me some money. If he had known how hard up I was he would have done so, maybe. but of course I didn’t tell him. I with the officers generaly of the 19^th Regt. have been for some time in a dreadful state of impecuniosity. In a few days though we will have enough. Every day we are expecting the Pay-Master. The state owes me over $200 & my officers $120 & over that I will get as soon as the Quarter Master pays the Reg.

 

            In regard to the war, we are all in a denser fogg than ever settles on the Mississippi River & that is so thick you can frequently cut it. Two or three days since we were rejoicing over the Yankee imboglio with England. Every dispatch shook with the roar of the British Lion—Every paper was full of Queen’s messengers to Lincoln demanding the release of Southron Commissioners, of Adams demanding his passports & of the Yankee clamor for war with England &c, &c. Yesterday it all melted into thin air. nothing tangible—all tell-a-lie—graph. I fear now that it will all end in a long diplomatic correspondence

 

            We are just above Carrelton & below the fortifications, viz the 18^th & 19^th Reg. while the 16^th & 17^th are just below Chalmet and above the lower end of the fortifications. We are at the uper & they at the lower end. / We are not here permanently. Our Brigades (Genl Ruggles) will be consolidated somewhere near the City, The place not yet selected. There are a great many rumors afloat in regard to Yankees in Southron waters. Col^t Muton. a well informed Gentleman with the best opportunities of knowing, beside being a West Point Military man, told me there were 30,000 of the accursed vermin on the adjacent islands & on ships in the Gulph & that he confidently expected an attack this winter on the City.

 

I expect Jeannie down by the 1^st January with dear child You must take her home with you to spend several weeks about 1^st Feby. It would do Anna good to take a short trip to the city to meet her, remain here a few days & take her up—

 

            I have bought Mary & Anna no music yet for the reason I have no money, but I will send some by aunt Jane. Tell Mary, from me, she must cultivate her music to the utmost. God has not given many such voices—let her use it a great deal, but be careful not to strain it, use will gradualy develop its volume & power. Mama & you all need no assurances from me of continued regard & love.                   Very Truly Your Bro

                                                                                                            Winans—

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