Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-01
From the Eighth Regiment.
CAMP NEAR New IBERIA, LA.
Sunday, November 22d, 1868.


Sill Remembered Parents 1T Is with
great JOY that now seat myself TO an
swer your kind letter, which l received
the i th inst. was very happy to hear
from you, and TO learn of your welfare.
would like to have answered it before,
but have not had chance, for | have
been on duty every day since until now,
and have now just come off picket, hav-
ing been on twenty. -four hours. | ought
to be sleeping now, but can't neglect
writing any longer.
This z. M. we have company in
spection, then to. morrow we have Gen
eral inspection, SO you see we have plen-
~ to do. Last week our regiment went
out foragng two days in succession. The
first day had poor luck, got nothing to
speak of, except a little wood, but the
next day, we crossed the Bayou, and
went about ten miles back into the coun-
try and found plenty Of forage, sdch as
corn, cora-fodder, sheep, hogs, sweet po-
tatoes, sugar, etc, aud about 200 wagons
were soon loaded with the above named
forage, and our steps again bent towards
camp, and arrived there just at dusk
Nearly every man had from a peck to
a bushel OF swee: potatoes, and more or
less sugar, and good many other things
too numerous to mention. That's what
we call foraging.
| hope our northern towns will never
be visited by an army. This country,
which was, one year age, a rich, beauti-
ful country, is now sad looking sigh.
Nothing to be seen but weeds, shoulder
high to man, unless it is an old hog too
thin to make a shadow.
Well, will change the subject, and
tell you where we are. Our brigade is
now encamped two miles below New
Iberia, on Bayou Teche, one hundred
and forty miles from New Orleans, sixty
miles from Brashear City. Steamboats,
run regularly from here TO Brashear, so
that we shall have our mails more regu-
lar after this. | understand our camping
is over for a spell, and they are again to
send to Algiers for our A tents. / hope
so, for we have been bamboozled enough |
or awhile, but the boys all stand the ia
igue frst-rate. The Troy boys are all
we'll, | believe. | am the feshiest now
hat have been for long time. The
Weather is quite cool here now, especially
lights. We have had quite number of
rosts, we call that pretty cold for this
state.
You spoke in your letter as though
'ou doubted about our time being out the
lrst Of June next. If you recollect right,
on will rememher that the President
allied for so many thousand men from
Vermont, to serve three years from the
Ist day of June 1861 unless sooner dis
charged, and our regiment was got up
inder that call and we only drew pay
rom the day OF enlistment. As you say,
At the time enlisted, | would have en-
listed for five years as quick as three, ard
am not sick of my bargain yet. l new
ar have seen the time yet that was sor-
y that enlisted into the service of my
country, and now, before | would desert
ny country, would enlist for three years
more. hope you don't think that am
lick OF my country's service, net by any
means, but | am sick of some of the men
who are in the service. You said that
'ou was afraid the next you heard from
Henry lie would be in the army. / hope
lot, but if he gets it into bis head to en-
list, tell him my advice to him is to 90
nto the heavy artillery, that being the
,est branch Of the service.
Well, l must close for spell, and
lean up my gun for inspection.
Inspection being over for tonight, |
will try and write little more. This
lay has not seemed much like Sunday,
IF as Sunday should. There is but
title regard shown for the Sabbath in the
rmy. If we had chance for religious
meetings and addresses, | believe / should
ike soldiers life. The boat has just
rrived from Brashear-bope she's got a
nail for US.
In the evening, it appears TO me that
can see you all, as Of old, sitting around
he fireside reading some interesting
looks, Or perhaps, the Tribune or Stand
nd. How happy should be to join you
his evening, bit no, my country needs
ne more, and | wish to answer to its
all. 1t must be a gloomy time North
row; it can't be otherwise, when our
northern citizens had rather pay $500,
un their country, and even get their
eeth pulled than to 60 to the assistance
# the brave boys in the field, who are