At the mouth of Riogrande

Texas, June 29^th 1865

 

Mrs. C. Your very kind letter has been duly received, and the contents read with real pleasure. Mails are like angels visits to us here where we are now, few and far between. The boys thought I must have a particular friend as I was so fortunate as to get a letter for but few of us have received any letters for the last six weeks it having been as we suppose shipped to some other point. Since we left Little Rock we have not been at any one place long enough for the mail agents to learn where to send our mails, until we are sent somewhere else. But of all places which we have seen or been this one place beats them all. We are encamped on the bank of the Riogrande river about ¼ of a mile from / its place of entrance into the Gulf of Mexico. I have not yet been across into Mexico and to confess the truth I have but little anxiety to go There is a town on the opposite side of the river where our boys go to when they wish to take a little spree as there they can get liquors of all kinds as cheap as they can be bought in any city in the U.S.

 

The town has been built up since the breaking out of the rebellion, by a set of northern money sharks who left the U.S. came here and have been carrying on an illicit trade in cotton with merchants of foreign nations.

 

They are now very anxious to sell off their possessions in their adopted country and come back to Gods Country once more

 

They have various reasons for wanting / to return one reason is they think the good time for money making is over, another is they are expecting a flying visit from Cortina and they know full well that if he does come he will feel for their pockets for booty is his game There was a fight up the river a few days ago between the French and Mexicans. They fought for two days and after the fuss was over, some of our boys who were camped on this side of the river not far from the scene of action, they being somewhat anxious to know how the affair terminated, crossed over the river and went into the Mexican camp and there learned that the Mexican loss was one mule killed and one man wounded. our Corp told them if that was their style of fighting that one regt of our men could whip the men of both armies combined Now I will tell you what / we suppose we are here for. We think we are here to watch the movements of the French government until the little difficulty between the nations can be settled in some way. This surely must be the object for it is very evident that our gov-nt does not need a force of 30,000 men to preserve order in this portion of the U.S. But let the object be what it may we as an organization of men do not think the nature of the case is of so much importance as to justify the authorities for keeping us here in the service We were sent over here through the misrepresentation of our Col. in his reports to Gen Canby and now the line officers have gone set about to rectify the mistake but it is not known yet with what success their efforts will be crowned but one thing is certain all the field officers are opposed to the step which the line officers have taken for in case they succeed they are in danger of being cashiered for making false statements to the war department

 

I only speak for myself, but I can truly say now that the war is over I am anxious to be freed from the oath that binds me to the U.S. service I long to exchange my soldiers life for that of a civilian. I long to exchange the tented field for the quiet peaceful cottage home in the far west. I long to exchange this sandy desert place on the banks of the Riogrande for the beautiful and fertile prairies / of Iowa where I will be permitted to roam at will those prairies and plains of Iowa and Nebraska from the Mississippi river to the Rocky mountains the same as I use to do in by gone days I long to doff my soldier suit, my soldier habits and every thing that in any way pertains to the soldier and return to my former vocation to my family and friends once more

 

Do not think now from the tone of this letter that I am homesick for it has always been my boast that I was free from any thing of that character.

 

But when you take into consideration the object that brought the soldiers into the field you will not be surprised that they are anxious to get home now.

 

 I have written enough for one time so I will close by hoping you may be in as good health and / spirits when you receive this as I am while writing it.

 

Very respectfully

G. Campbell

Co. "I" 29^th Iowa Infty.

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