Donalson Vill July 15 1863

 

            Dear Brother I thought as I had a good chance I would write you a few lines I wrote home afew days ago but as we have had a big time since I thought perhaps you would like to hear some thing from me I came through the Battal all right it was Sunday about 2 or 3 oclock when we wer orderd to pack for amarch and off we started and Co A was soon sent out as scirmishers through the corn and the artilery sheled the woods on both sides of the Bayou and in that stile we marched 3 miles did not see but few rebs then we stoped for night Co A & F had gon some ways ahead / of the Brigade but went back to the regt and when we got there they wer cocking chickens and pigs and of cors it would not do for Co A to be hind so we stacked arms and at it we went they wer all very dry and had to go after water I went after some murphys there was in a shed and when I got the kitle ful I sent it to the cook and went in a bee yard to see how they got along the first hive was light the next was hevy off came the top and I got some moss set it afire and then went in there hapened to be another of Co A there he got a pail I got it most ful and stung twice and left and while washing my hands along come two more of Co A loaded with gees and chickens and we had a bulley supper and then had to go on guard or / Pickets to the right of the reg along a corn field. P ransom A McMalamell and I wer on a post together in the morning chickens for breakfast did not see eney rebs in gun shot at noon the goos came and also the rebs and the order to fall in some throad the goos but I put mine in my haversack and got in line as quick as posible they came out of the woods back of the corn and formed in line throught it we fired two voleys and saw that wer flanking us on the right so we fell back towards the reg but slow they fireing all the time too and when we got there the order came to fall back in good order and that we did although the fire was hot the rebs had flanked us on the left across / the Bayou and gave us a cross fire which wounded severel. we retreated through corn cane and over fences for a mile or more then came out in the road and we wer the hind Co but the Bayou Bent around so we used the bank as a cover and would fire across cateron and then go on there was severel wounded in the regt but not eney of Co A except Clinton H Wilcox from Prattsburgh he was a collar guard in Co C we retreated back where we started from and the rebs stoped they sayed they dident like the gun boats we sent out a flag of truce to get the dedd and wounded but it being / very dark and rainey they did not get all untill morning and our Co being sent on picket I did not see but few of the wounded at night but saw enough in the morning they wer shot in all ways there was 4 kiled and 31 wounded in our regt the rebs treated our wounded first rate gave them water and took them in houses it being thickley setled along the Bayou the wounded was sent up to Baton Rouge as soon as posiable the rebs here are mostley Texecans and fight lik tigars they are all mounted on horses there is where they have the advantage of us but we have got reinforcements and I expect will try them again for soon we have hurd to day that / Generel Lee and his force has bin captered in Penn the boys all feal Bulley but some tired though wel I dont know of eney thing more to write Now give my respects to all enquering Friends write soon

 

                                    Direct as Before

                                                                        Wilson Nevyus

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