Year: 1863

are only 1S miles from the Gulf and every
day the oyster men come up the Bay, laden
cd with the fresh, which can be had at the
moderate price Of 81 90 per hundred. The
country also abounds with lemons, oranges


and other topical fruits. The principle
fishing is sea crabs, which to see the shells
laying around camp one would think u Was
quite business. It takes some nics caf'
culation to trap crabs; the Arst place you
take piece Of meat, no matter which kind,
tie it to . string, then you have . net in
the other hand, take up your position on
the trunk of somc old tree or on the
edge Of some trcacberous rock, cast out
the line and you sooner or later have your
victim after the meat you draw in gently
until near the top Of the water, then with
the other hand you sink the net under him
and commence raising, 1.-TWO 10 one you
don't fall in y you have him gobbled up.
It is a common thing 10 see the boys come
in to camp, wet from head to foot but nev.
ei without the crabs, which after boiling
for few minutes are ft for the table.
There are camped at this place two army
corps, (ths 18th and 19.h) some Of which
are crossing to the other side Of the Bay,
and from there We will have to take up our
line Of march 10 Texas. The inhabitants
say that we will have good roads oil tho
way and plenty Of fresh water after We
strike tie Atchafalaya; be that as it may.
the 10Th army corps takes the advance and
the pole, they can walk the 18th army
corps can coon; the understanding among
the boys is that we play second fiddler in
this affair, and hope the dance will not last
long, and that VIC may all get back home
before bedtime and dream Of the many
pleasant times We have had soldering, for.
getting tho many scenes Of carnage we hava
had to pass through. The weather has
been very pleasant for the last few days,
although the nights are rather cool for
health and already you can see the fevered
and sallow eye on many Of the boys that


were healthy when VIC left New Orleans.
Chills and few. rs is all we have to fear now,
and We have a six mule load Of quinine
along for the 2lst own benefit and Doc.
tor that knows how to put it up for family
use. The routine of medical practice in
the army is blucmass, castor oil, cocktails
and qunine The 2lst has present for duty
246 men, and when she leaves here there
will most likely be some left in hospital.
There are some coming back every day
from furloughs, looking as fat and healthy,
as though they met with good treatment At
home, and it is laughable to see how the
boys will gather around them to hear the
news md with mouth and ears open, drink
in every word that falls from the lucky
ones lips. have been in the mines of
the Rocky Mountains when it was an.
nounced a live woman in the mines = And
have seen men run ct to break their necks.
to catch glimpse Of some fair Rebecca,
that had vowed to die and be buried in the
land Of her husbands adoption, and the
scene is only equaled by the return of some
'~''o"oNso s~'3'ss ~ uss 1cgInUur, gnu me
rich store Of Information rnat ne urmps
with him, but invariably they all come
back 7uttle men, and the men that have
been denied that right Of home, to man
are for the same. So that those that weld
the Rod can take either horn of the dilem-
ma they choose.


We are all anxiously looking for Colonel
Merrill, hope he may soon come, and once
more take the helm Of the 2lst and bring
it around all right again. The camp this
evening is full of rumors, such as tho fall
Of Sumter, Charleston, Chattanooga, bread
riot in Mobile and, lastly, Houston's pro-
position to Withdraw his troops from the
field and welcome US with outstretched
arms to his dominions Iexpect Houston
will do this, but if you look at the arms you
will find Enfield" or "Springfeld" stamp.
cd on them, and some are so heavy (artil-
'ery) that it will take Eight horses to ena-
bic them to shake hands with US! "And
Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven" II
any one asks you where the tho 21st is
please tell them you don't know, but that II
is going to the last point of land looking
for the "last DITCH" and at the same time
keeping an eye on LaBells France ontho
Rio Grandc, if she comes out barssoo4.A :.
We can administer few of Lincoln's nev.
er failing pills (put up 10 in paper) war
rantcd to cure all diseases Of disloyalty or
ambition the patient may be afflicted with.
These pills were taken by the rebs. at Port
Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion
Hills, Black River Bridge and the vicks.
burgh-at the latter place it took AZ days
administration Of them before they fully
operated, but very fine evacuation follow
ed. Now follow the 18th Army eorps and
Il fear) you will see It played out also.


You may soon look for the Western
troops to stand like the big angel in scrip
ture with one foot on the land and the other
on the sea and cry with mighty voice,
"What in - are we all fighting forr'
Then vii! come the true proposition Of tho
dael-"Aggrandizement Of Property r'--
The first thing We know wS5sWiIl wsks up
amid pompous parades and Military ,Des-
potism for already have rights been dc.
MED to soldiers which exigencics did not
require and which for cruelty would make
the history Of Herod blxah! At Vicks.