Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-08-11
Letter from Texas.
Camp Near Brownsville, Texas, !
July 18th, 1865.

to trouble you and your readers wit
: army composition, moi from the "sacre
soil OF Virginia." but from the barre
sands of Texas. Perhaps brief ccoun
of my voyage from Virginia to this plac
would interest some of your readers.
June 9th we weighed anchor a n
steamed out of Hampton Roads on th
j. w. Everman the day being pleasan
and not uucomfortably warm, the Ba.
slightly rufiled by gentle breeze, mad
; our departure quite pleasant Nothing
of importance occurred as we steamed
down the coast except many were sea
sick, which is usually the case with fresf
water fowls. Your humble servant done
his share toward feeding hungry fish a:
usual on such excursions, but | can't say
that enjoy the sport of paying 70 cts
for dinner and then lose it in five min
ltes after, but of course it is all right to
Cast your bread upon the waters" FOL
the good book says so.
The sea was somewhat troubled in the
vicinity of Florida Reefs, but nothing
serious. We found the weather exceed
ingly warm at Florida Keys, being near
ly far enough south to inhale the atmos-
phere of the Torrid Zone. Our sail 10
the Gulf was very pleasant, the numer-
Gus gold colored fish sporting near the
surface and the Pelicans and sea gulls
fitting about added much to the enjoy
ment Of the passengers.
June 18th, we arrived at the mouth of
Mobile Bay and cast anchor within few
yards of Fort Morgan, but soon weighed
anchor and steamed out, bound for New
Orleans, arriving there the morning of
the 18th. The ascent of the Mississippi
was decidedly the most pleasant part of
our voyage, ( b e beautiful groves oil
Orange and Lemon trees glistened with
their golden fruit, the knocking birds and
numerous other kinds of songsters war,
bling sweet melodies, with occasionally
an alligator perched on a log with his
,oat of mail glistening in the rays Of the
Jun all combined TO make the scenery in
eresting. After sojourn of thirty-six
ours in the Crescent City, during which
n -amonnt of coal had been transferred
D j. w. Eyerman, we again cut loose
nd made good time down the river; the
lrrent being strong our speed was great ;,
accelerated. In due time we disem.
lrked at Brazos Santiago Island, which :.
a sand bank without bush or tree or :,
arcely green thing-no water except
hat is condensed from salt water by r
'e" "ShSs' 1ho uiOahih5 vi oh" VI
e two Engines with the landing of sew. ~
al thousand thirsty soldiers made the u
tier question quite interesting to all q
ncerned your humble servant then %
ought how valuable were the springs v
sweet water gushing out from beneath p
e granite rocks of New England. 1t
After two days stay we left the burn 4
9 sands of Brazos and struck out for P
e Rio Grande, which we reached after .
out six hours march at Whites Ranch IL
d drank our ill of fhe muddy water, Ii
hich when placed in pail and settled u
IS one inch of solid mud to seven inches IL
water, or in other words, a pail eight IL
ches deep being filled at night has one II
ch Of mud in the bottom the next morn IL
g, but it is quite good, and said TO be " ..
'althy after settling. After three days ~
muddy marching, caused by the over ' '
wing of the Rio Grande we arrived at "
townsville, opposite Matamoras, which +
garrisoned by several thousand French .
ID Mexican soldiers. We can hear al
cir bugle and drum calls very distinctly "
orning and evening from our encamp- 81
emit. Our officers 60 over there near III
every day some of them, and meet 'e
th kind reception from their soldiers. 10
] visited the 9Th Vt. Regt., few days 10
zee at GAINESVILLE, opposite Bagded, XII
exico. saw LIST Lieutenant Fernando
,ndall, formerly Of Glover, who was
joying himself very well and seemed s,
ntented with bis lot, if he had not been ye
id off for six months, and his ward. re
be was growing beautifully less. / did
t see any more that knew, still felt
newbat acquainted because they were
srmonters.
There is not much vegetation here, ex
pit little stunted thorn bushes from six in
eight feet high, no farms, nothing
owing except in gardens, which has to
watered it seldoms rains here
lis is great country for Lizards,
axes, Toads, Horned Frogs, Mosquitoes,
iders, &c. In fact everything, animal
4 vegetable seems to be armed with a 'lu