Reserve Briggade

 

                                                                        Thibdeaux. Camp Stevens

                                                                                    La.       Jan. 22^nd 1863

 

Dear Wiffe

                                    yours of dec. 28^th arived in due time and was very glad to here from you I am glad your health is good you must excuse me for not riting before for I have ben prety buisey we left Brashear City the eight of this month and came here and stade two nights and then we hald marching orders then we went back to Brashear City stade thare two nights and then from thare to Centervill thare was seven Regiments in the whole and ninteen Canon we went up thare to distroy the Rebel Gun boat Cotton and we don it to the eight. Vt. went on the gun boat Gray Cloud the most of the fight was with our gun boats and the Cotton/the fight was the 13^th & 14^th it was fun to see our gun boats and batery’s play on to the Cotton tha used the Cotton up so that tha burnt hur in the night the most of the men on the Cotton was most all kiled thare was onley two or three of our men killed and but a few wounded thare was none in the eight Vermont killed or wounded the 8^th was landed on the right hand side of the bajoue alone the bank was lined with rifle pits but it dident take the 8^th Vt long to clean them out we took 30 prisners and kiled fore or five of them I think we done very well we was gone five days and then returned to Camp Stevens I don’t know how long we shall stay here some say we are going to Baton Rouge if we go thare I think we shall go/to Vitchburg. I think if we go thare we shall see some fighting I hope we shant go I never want to see aney fighting I had a letter from George Flanders the other day he says that he and Henry are all well George says that he has seen fighting anough I think tha have tha have seen a hard time tha have ben very luckey to get through so fur without being hurt I hald a letter from Edwin the other day he says that mother is no better I am sory to here that I was in hops to here that she was geting better am glad that you are goin to stay with hur a while I wish I was thare with you this winter I think I should enjoy my self much better than I do here I am lonsom here it has got to be an old storey with us Ed says that Charles has got his discharge and got home/I am glad he has got out of it I wish I was thare with you to and henry to but I think that it will be settled up before long and then we will all come home and I guess tha wont git us back agane Well I cant stop to write much more this time the boys are all perty smart tell mother to up good curage and we will be at home with hur in a short time Give my love to all and accept a good share your self write soon Good Buy

            From your Aff. Hursband

                        Sergt. N. Robie

                        Co. D. 8^th Regt Vermont Vols

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