The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-02-20
A CIVIL WAR
COMMUNICATION
WRITTEN BY GEORGE w. BAX-
TER FROM LOUISIANA DUR
ING THE CAMPAIGN OF
1868 TO A FRIEND IN
BOURBON,
IND.

In examining the effects of the late
Robert Cornwall who died some time
ago at his home in Bourbon, the fol
lowing letter was found written by
George w. Baxter, a private in Co.
c, OF the -4uh Indiana Cavalry, 1st
Brigade, OF the 18th Army corps, then
located at New iberia, La The letter
was lent to us by Mr. Baxter who is
now residing in this city and enjoy
ing the best of health. 1t contains
little history besides being a good
sketch of the civil war spirit
New Iberia, La, Sunday mornino,
Oct 25th, 1868:
Friend Robert Cornwall,
Dear Sir:
Agreeable TO a promise made you
before | left home, | will now ask
your Indulgence for few thoughts,
and but few they will be for there
has been nothing to particularly ex-
cite my feelings since the downfall
of V:cksburg and Jackson, Miss. The
boon for which | am most thankful
is good health, which | am glad to
say | enjoy. My health is good, and |
am in good spirits, have plenty to
eat, drink and wear, and wouldn't be
anything else but soldier in Uncle
Sans service, if could The health
Of our company and the army gen.
eraly is good
We are now attached to the 1st
Cavalry Brigade of The 18th Army
corps and commanded by Col. Mudd
2nd Ills cavalry, and are in the grand
Texas expedition. We are in a mixed
battalion of Our companies from four
different regiments, Co.'S c 1st and
4th Ind, A 36th and l. 18th Ills. cav
airy and our captain is in command
of the battalion. Our battalion is in
the rear guard OF ali the army, and
has all the escorting of trains and
dispatches. to do. from this post to
the advance, which is, suppose near
ly IS miles in our advance, and are
at this time NEAR what is called Sa.
bine pass.
The advance is fighting and skir-
nishing with the rebels, most every
day, and are driving them by de-
gTees all the time There is a detail
of our boys at the advance at this
time, as an escort to dispatch bear
er. We have been engaged a part oil
our time in riding over the prairies
and driving in ponies, (of which there
are thousands) TO mount the infantry
on | never knew until | saw it, that
Louisiana was a prairie country. bui
il IS. The western and southwestern
parts are almost one boundless sea
OF prairie that is as good pasture as
| ever | saw in midsummer and is
| covered with almost countless thous.
ands OF horses, cattle and mules, al
Wild, fat and sleek
Now Robert, | will tell you of a
| few places that | have been at, am
the times, and then you can judge oi
what | have seen. / was at Magnilia
| Hills on May st. at Champion Hills
on May 10th, at Black river bridge
on May 17th. and at Vicksburg from
| May 10Th until the morning of July
| 9Th and from then on until the 18th
in the advances on Jackson. and from
then until the 22nd IN a raid made b,
| Major Fullerton from Jackson abou
SIS miles south of Brookhaven, Miss.
and from there back to Vicksburl
and from there TO New Orleans, anc
then up the river so miles TO Donald
sonville and from there to Brashael
City on Bernie Bay, and then from
there to this place. This is a towr
of probably 5000 inhabitants and i:
in St. Marin's Parish. situated on /:
navigable bayou from Brashaer City
or the Bay to Vermillion. About 2;
miles above this, the country is level
rich and beautiful. and grows cane
cotton. rice. oranges, figs, peanuts
| and pecan nuts IN abundance. Nc
apples at all, and but few peaches a
this place. They raise pretty gooC
corn here but the weevil eats it Sc
bad that it almost spoils t.
The wearher is getting little COO
especially at nights, and heavy dew.
fall have not heard from home
| for a long time, and don't know
whether my folks are all alive yet o.
not. | want you TO answer this a:
soon as it comes and tell me how al
the folks are and give me all the newi
that you can by letter, for few line,
from friend at home revives a sol
der amazingly Direct 10 George w
Baxter Co c 4th Ind. Cavl st Cavl
Brig. Is Army corps via Vicksburg
| Miss Tell the folks at Bourbon tha
there is at least one boy in old Co. {
that is not yet blazed out and dis
charged, or at home sick, nor is HI
anyways likely to be as long as there
are any traitors left TO fight and h,
is able to sit in the saddle. My space
rs almost full and | must close.
Yours ever truly etc,
George W. Baxter