Camp Hunter five miles above the

town of Franklin La. March 6^th 1863

 

My Darling Julia

                        Nearly a month has now passed, since any news from home has reached me, and you may easily imagine my anxiety to hear from you.

 

            I have written to you every week and generally, two or three times during the week, but have waited in vain for some word from you. Since my last letter which was by hands of Charley Canfield, I have learned the "whereabouts" of Mr Taylor and family, and have been to visit them. They are stopping at the house of Mr Massey, only a mile from our camp, but intend removing to New Iberia in a few days and will probably remain at that place until they can return to their homes at Donaldsonville

 

            I delivered your letter to Miss Mary, and she promised to write to you very soon, seemed very glad to hear from you and from all your Pa's family

 

            I had only a short time to spare and found so much company with them, that I could not learn much about the friends in Natchez, and New Orleans

 

            Promised to visit them again if I should chance to be in New Iberia. They had no later intelligence from Frank than I had already written you

 

            Ralstons Battery has been ordered to Simmsport La, about one hundred and ninety miles from here, in the direction of Port Hudson, but may be ordered to return at any time. We have been on the tiptoe of excitement during the past week, anticipating an attack from the enemy at Berwicks Bay, whose forces / had been increased to about fifteen thousand men under Genl Weitzel. We made every preparation to give them a warm reception, though we had only about 3500 men to meet them. Yet in their present disorganized state, we think we could have driven them back.

 

            Our Army here will soon be largely augmented and we will then be in condition to attack the enemy in his entrenchments. You need not be surprised at any time to hear, that we have crossed Berwicks Bay, and are again marching to the Lafourche

 

            The ranks of the enemy are being thinned every day by desertions, and from all accounts, we are convinced that great disaffection prevails, especially among the Western men

 

            I have seen several of the deserters, and they all agree in stating, that the Soldiers from the middle and western States, are sick of the war and are clamoring for peace. They say that the officers have prohibited their reading the papers of the day; and strive to keep them in utter ignorance of what is transpiring everywhere

 

            Every indication for peace seems brightening, and I shall be sadly disappointed, if some negotiations for peace are not in progress before the first of June next

 

            It may be that the wish is father to the thought, yet I can not divest my self of the belief, that the war is now near an end, and we shall be permitted to return to our loved ones at home. Oh! happy day! may it soon roll round, which shall shed joy on so many pleasant homes. Yet with every joyous anticipation, is is mixed some feeling of doubt, and fear, that many of us may yet fall in our Countrys battles, or linger out a few days of suffering, and be buried in these / dreary swamps

 

            Since I began writing, Mr Proctor has arrived bringing your dear good letters of 6^th and 13^th Febry which have cheered me up and made me feel like a new man. He also brought one of 13^th from Mary saying that all were well, and that Mother had six letters for you. So I hope ere this you have been made as happy as I am. I will reply to your letters more at length in my next. I write this to send by Albert Noble who has been discharged on account of ill health and will start for home on tomorrow

 

            We are having very heavy rains now and the earth is quite soft in fact very muddy, but we have excellent Quarters and are quite comfortable

 

            I am sorry that I have not yet found a chance to buy you a Servant, but will keep a look out for one & think I will yet succeed. I am very anxious that you shall have one, as you already have more work than you ought to do, and if your surmises are correct (which I have no reason to doubt) you will soon be compelled to have one

 

            Give my love to Mother Mary & Willie. To Bro Alex Sister Ada, Aunt Jenet, Phe, Gabriella the Dr and to their families to your Pa & Cousin Harriet & Uncle Jeth & all and my sincere regards to Mr & Mrs M^cRea and all our friends

 

            To my dearest best friend, and our darling children, receive all my love and bushels of Kisses. Hoping to see you when the war is over and that it may be ere long, and that You dearest will pray for me ever,      

                 

Believe me Darling

Ever your own

Faris Hensley /

 

Mar 7^th

We were roused up last night and ordered to be "ready to march at a moments warning" as the Gun Boats of the enemy were coming up the Lake, only a short distance from us. but we heard nothing more of them and presume they went back, or that it was a false alarm

 

            I dreamed last night that I was at home with you; indeed I have dreamed of seeing you nearly every night for a week past, but wake up to find it "all a dream"

 

I have some new songs which I will send you in my next; some of them are very pretty

 

            The L[?]ans are all very well and we are in good spirits cheered with the prospects of peace / yet ready for a fight if it be necessary

 

Again thanking you for your dear letters, and requesting my love to all our dear friends with heart full of love and many kisses to you and our dear babies

 

I remain fondest loved one

 

Yours Ever

Faris

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