Got a calf skin this morning brought it to camp and found it full of holes - would not do for a drum-head. Regiment has dress parade did not go out. Foot quite painful and swollen some today.

Monday, Nov. 2, 1863

Ross of Co. F and I go to cattle yards and got a splendid hide - paid fifty cents to have it skinned without scarring. Ross intends to tan it for me.

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1863

All quiet in camp today. In the evening learn we are to garrison New Iberia and are to move up to the town at five o'clock in the morning. Bought a vest for $2.50.

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1863

Regiment started and came up to town soon after day-break. Were as busy as nailors fixing up our tents, raising them and boarding up the sides and ends - put a nice floor in ours. Commenced a long letter to Lizzie - wrote nearly one sheet.

New Iberia, La., Nov. 4, 1863

Last Thursday night we were met at Vermillion Bayou on our return from Opelousas by a large mail. One dear little letter from you for me was among them.

I am glad to write that we have at last found a place where we will likely remain awhile; where it seems worth while to fix up. I wrote my last from Vermillionville 25 miles north west from here, we went on to Opolousas 25 miles further lay there a few days and had to fall back on account of supplies. We came back in three days, were four going out - that was very hard marching. I had a pretty hard time coming back. I sprained my foot on the first-days march and it don't get well. I had to ride in the ambulance part of the last day. But we are in camp now and I will soon be all right again. We went three miles below here and lay a couple of days and then Lieut. Col. Kershner (our Colonel who was wounded and taken prisoner at Chickasaw Bayou and just returned a few days ago) was given command of New Iberia and we are stationed here to garrison the post. We got up this morning at four o'clock and came up to town, have been as busy as nailors all day fixing up shanties and I have as nice a shanty as a soldier need want. There are four of us, we have our shelter tents spread over as a roof, then the sides and ends we have built up with boards of various kinds, sizes and smoothness; half of one end is left open for a door - this faces the door of the palace of the rest of our mess. Now for the inside. First we have a gay floor of pine and poplar boards with the fuzzy side up to make it soft and to serve as a carpet. Our beds are on the floor - we each have a stool and I am writing on a rough desk made from an old cracker box - another of the boys has a desk at the opposite end of the tent near the door; behind me is my big drum and stretched along the side lay our knapsacks, haversacks, etc., to the center pole hang two guns and a pistol which complete our house equipage. You see we are well off if they will only let us be for a time and not run us somewhere else. It is getting too dark to write so I will finish tomorrow.

Thursday Eve. Nov. 5, 1863

We have been fixing up our house anew all day, have raised it so we can stand straight and put a bed of boards about fourteen inches from the floor which improves it a great deal as well as makes nice seats. It is raining now -- well let it rain we are ready for it -- have comfortable quarters which will keep us dry and warm if it don't rain too hard.

I received the letter directed to Carrollton, Miss. and I think all you have written to me lately. When the Company and regiment is written plainly on the envelope, it will generally come through even if there is no post office address. Postmasters look for the regiment not the town to which a letter is addressed. They are furnished with lists of the regiments in such and such divisions and their destinations, then forward letters belonging to such to them. Direct all your letters via New Orleans till I tell you otherwise.

I am so glad you are rarely sick, for you can not tell how anxious I am when I hear you are not well till I hear of your recovery again. I never was afraid of disease when I was at home -- am not yet for myself - but it seems so fatal to my dearest friends at home. I think I told you in a former letter of the deaths of my little twin brother and sister by dysentery. Our whole family except Mother and Ezekiel had it. All recovered save those two who were too pure to stay on earth but soared on angels wings to meet those dear ones gone before. This makes four of our family gone to heaven since I left home - four dear ones who will never gather round the family board again - whose places are forever vacant. No wonder is it that I fear so to hear of any one near and dear to me being sick?

The doctors of Holmes County used to lose a great many cases of dyptheria but they have learned better how to treat it and it is not feared so much as formerly. As Dr. Fuzz hails from the strong hold of Valandinghamism of course he is or ought to be perfect in all his professions. I am glad your Grand-mother is in fair way to recover. Hope soon to hear her health is fully restored. You have had a long tour at housekeeping and that too in the busiest season of the year. O how I wish I could be there to help you with your peaches and preserves. I know I could hinder and put part of them away if they did not find the can. I think I will call up and help you eat some of your fruit and spend the evening. I think I will have to go up and go with you to the molassus boiling. We used to have lots of fun in the sugar camp. I am sorry you did not tell me in time to go over last Sunday when all the young folks were along. What a big time we could have had. Well, well, you will not fool me always for I will go popping in some time when you least expect me and then we will have a big time. O what a long talk we will have - how much we will have to tell each other -- of all we have seen and gone through since last we met. I will have a long tale of hard-ship -- of battles - of bloodshed and suffering. I will have tales of marching through mud and water, over hills and across large prairies - through raging torrents and over dusty and scorching roads - but not these alone for I will have a brighter side to my picture -- I will have pleasant tales of camp life to relate when everything is quiet and no fear of a prowling enemy near and then I will listen to your less thrilling though no less interesting tales of home life - of pleasant parties and little incidents of sweet memory - of music teaching and its vexations - of broom sticking trustees, etc., etc.

The 54th Indiana left here for home a few days ago, they were one year troops. They had a sad accident as they were going to Algiers on the cars. There were two trains going the same way - something went wrong with the first, it stopped and the other ran into it, killing 12 or 14 outright and wounding some 60 or 70 more. How hard to be thus butchered while on their home-ward trip. The survivors were so enraged that they went for every thing they came across when they got to Algiers and in less than half an hour after they arrived, there were not groceries or saloons open in town.

I am so glad to hear the patriots of Ohio have given so large a majority for John Brough for Governor and so effectually killing the candidate who lives in "Canada." The soldier's vote will run up the majority to a 100,000 for Brough like a shot. Hurrah for the downfall of treason in Ohio. I am afraid you cannot read this botched up thing - the paper we get here is so poor we can scarcely write on it. Give my love to all my friends who inquire for me. Tell Zillah I like her a "bushel." I suppose she is quite a large girl now.

Thursday, Nov. 5, 1863

Change our tent this morning - raise it some and put a bed in it. Large mail in. Receive letters from home and Tom Bird and a Republican of Oct. 15th. Wrote over a sheet to Lizzie. The other regiments of our brigade passing through here in the rain. Raining this evening.

Friday, Nov. 6, 1863

Troops moving up and teams passing through nearly all last night. Expecting an attack but for a wonder the 16th was not disturbed all night. Wrote to Father, Mother and Ida - finished my long letter to Lizzie. Wrote a few lines to Ike McCullough and Jake Hostettler and send their letters to them. Troops lay in line of battle the other side of town all day.

New Iberia, La., Nov. 6, 1863

Lieut. Boling arrived safely bringing my shirts, socks and gloves. How can I thank you for such good warm shirts as you sent me - never did anything come in better play than they did; I lost two shirts by having them stolen when they were washed and had but one - a secesh thing as dirty almost as dirt could make it for we were marching through mud and slop for several days. We had just arrived three miles below here and gone into camp when the Lieut. and Warner hall came. It had been raining, the wind was then coming from the north-west and it was getting pretty cold, I through off old Mr. Secesh and put on a new shirt and then I slept warm while others by me were shivering and shaking with the cold. I'll bet I thought of home and my good old Mother who had made and sent them to me. I had four pair of socks and at present did not need them but will before I can get more and they are not heavy as long as I don't lose them. I have socks enough now to last me till my time will be out. It is still warm here only after a rain but the gloves will come in good play after awhile. I am greatly pleased with what you sent me especially with the shirts which are the very thing and a nicer fit could not have been made had you measured every time a stitch had been taken. The socks are not too big. I am glad Father took my glee-book out of the bundle, we have so much marching to do of late that it is too heavy to carry, besides I lose so many things. I do not want to lose it. I would like to have some good writing paper we can get nothing but thin poor stuff at double price here. This is the best I could find. Harry Myers (that singing teacher Myers' son) has all of his writing paper, envelopes and stamps sent from home by mail and then he never has any flimsy stuff to write on. Paper can be sent by rolling it in a roll about a quire at a time and his envelopes he has put in a large envelope with the end off then pastes a small strip across to keep them from coming out and leave the ends bare. They cost only one cent to bring a pack. I think three cents will bring a quire of good heavy paper the size of this through.

We are in Bank's department now and at present Gen. Washborne commands our corps. Gen. Lawler the division, Col. Sheldon the brigade and Lieut. Col. Kershner has command of the regiment and the Post of New Iberia. Our company and Tanneyhill's are consolidated under command of Capt. Tanneyhill although Lieut. Corn does the business of Co. B. Lieut. Boling started back to Brashear City yesterday. I do not know what duty he went on. Gen. Ord is our corps General but is under arrest for arming the citizens of Vermillionville to shoot soldiers who go foraging over their plantations while we lay at Vermillion Bayou. Gen. Washborne is our division commander and Gen. Lawler our brigade commander. We are in the 3d Brigade 1st Division of the 13th Army Corps, Department of the Gulf. We are a part of the overland route Texas expedition. I will not get home this winter. I will write more to Ida.

New Iberia, La., Nov. 6, 1863

I was real glad to get your letter of Sept. 29th as well as the things Lieut. Boling brought me. Your letter came yesterday. I guess you will get to eat all of this years molassus yourselves without my aid. I do not expect to get home till my time is out. We are too far away for fur- loughs and have only ten months longer to stay. I am glad you were all so fortunate to get well of that dangerous disease. Poor little Albert and Allie how I should like to have seen the dear little twins. But they are better off now than while here, we should not wish to call them back. I should like to hear from Aunt Jane - hope she is not dangerously ill, is she? I received a letter from Uncle Caldwell a few days ago. Aunt Deb is still at her father's. Uncle was at Gahana. Have not answered it yet. I have not heard from Cicero since Father wrote, have had no letter from him. Received a letter from Brownhill some time ago and answered it.

The boys with the company are all well. Isaac McCullough and Jon't Williams are at Carrollton. Hugh Tidball came from there and says Ike is pretty poorly, he thinks he will die, he just pines himself away. John Stimmel is dead - died a few days before Hugh left. Newt Gorsuch is with us and well, fat and hearty. Tell Zekie if he don't poney me up a letter I will have to put him through a course of sprouts. Fie on his not writing good enough for his brother to read. Why I can read any thing from Willie's scribling up to the plainest hand writing ever put on paper.

Now I will tell you what we have been doing. We are about 50 miles further up the Bayou Tech to Oppaolusas when we were ordered back here making the return trip in three days march. I sprained my foot the first day and had a hard time getting back, had to ride part of the last day and have my things hauled to make the riffle. My foot is nearly well now. I guess we were afraid of the rebels getting in our rear. Col. Kershner met us as we were coming back and had command again. He is appointed Commander of this post and we are left to garrison it. The rest of our brigade and division went through here last night and this morning and are now lying in line of battle a few miles to the front. We were looking for an attack. A lot of rebels are between us and the 19th Corps. - had a fight with and whipped a part of Hovey's division taking a lot of them prisoners. I think they want to get our grub here. They will have to fight for it if they do. We have built ourselves shanties of boards and covered them with our shelter tents, have comfortable quarters if they will only let us stay here all winter. We are better fixed than we ever were before. My drum head is broken so I have been doing no drumming for over a week. I am getting a new one tanned, it will be several days yet before I get it fixed. Who teaches your winter school?

New Iberia, L., Nov. 6, 1863

I must write you a few words and answer your questions. I have had no letter from Boston since he went to Fort Wayne. Would like to hear from him - what he is doing - how he makes it pay, etc. I am glad your clover seed is all safe in the barn. Are you going to have a pretty good turn out? I received another Republican of Oct. 15th yesterday. I get all of my papers I think - sometime I do not get them for two or three weeks after they are due, but they come at last -- will come here regularly I think. You need not fear of me changing my company or regiment now - my time is to near out to reinlist before I go home, besides better offers will be made about the time we are discharged than now - they will be no worse. Newt Gorsuch sends two dollars in this letter to Uncle Frey requesting him to send him a good pen just like mine. Mine is Valentine and Aiken No. 6. Uncle knows what it is like. Newt says he wants a soft one. We do not know what the price of such pens are and send two dollars - if that is not enough he will write to his Father and he will pay the balance. The pen Uncle can send either to me or to Newt in person in a letter as he did mine. I do not expect to get home now till my time is up which will be in ten months if I am discharged when I enlisted. I do not wonder at your feeling lost for those dear little babes sent as they were to supply the place Lizzie and Cappie left vacant and hardly become acquainted ere they too were called away. I forgot to say I am nearly out of postage stamps and wish you would send me some more in your next.

Saturday, Nov. 7, 1863

Went with teams about 12 miles out for corn and hay, brought in a few sweet potatoes. Division ordered back to Franklin in the morning. Orders just come up to us to leave in the morning at five o'clock. Hired another darkey cook today - Joe.

Sunday, Nov. 8, 1863

Troops passing all morning we do not move until in the afternoon where we were put in wagons and rode all the afternoon. Camped about 10 o'clock at night. Came about 20 miles. Have a lot of prisoners with us.

Monday, Nov. 9, 1863

Up early and off in the wagons again, rode to Franklin 8 miles and then went aboard boats for Brashear City. Came within 5 or 6 miles of Berwick, wooded and ran back some four miles to meet the Star-light. Arrived at Berwick late at night and came ashore. Boys go for a Suttler strong.

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1863

Rest of the Division came in this morning. Fix up our shanties and write a letter to Dave Williams.

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1863

Wrote to Uncle Caldwell Tidball. Received letter from Mother. Attended brigade Guard Mount and dress-parade.

Brashear City, La., Nov. 11, 1863

I received your kind and very friendly letter several days ago and as we were moving about so much I was always tired and deferred answering it till this morning. I am well although we have had a pretty tough time of it lately. We were in the great Texas Expedition - were to pass through Louisiana but like all other plans of the "great" Gen. Banks failed and we have returned to Brashear City - probably to New Orleans to start out afresh; out-generaled and driven by an inferior force and that too almost without a battle. We were as far as Oppolousas over a hundred miles from here - had not more then got there till we were ordered back to New Iberia to protect the rear. We made the backward trip, about 53 miles, in three days - took four advancing. We lay there three days and then Col. Kershner was appointed to command the Post and our regiment was to garrison it. Our front had fallen back to Roundabout Bayou twelve miles this side of Oppolousas. Here they suffered themselves to be completely surprised and a short but bloody conflict ensued. Our boys were being paid off when the rebels came yelling right into their camp driving them back with heavy loss. They afterwards rallied and then Mr. Reb. had to give way leaving us in possession of the field. Our loss was about 600 in killed, wounded and missing - mostly prisoners. The rebel loss in killed and wounded was heavier than ours although we did not take as many prisoners. The army fell back fourteen miles to Vermillion Bayou and made a stand - in a couple of days afterward we were all ordered back here.

For once since we came to the front the 16th was fortunate. We had 89 prisoners and a long train of empty wagons to bring down. The prisoners were sent ahead with a guard and the rest of us got into the wagons and rode twenty-eight miles to Franklin where we got on the boat and came on down the bayou arriving here night before last. Yesterday the rest of the division came in and we put up our tents. How long we will stay or where we will go from here I am not able to state. The general opinion is that we will take boats and go by water toward Galveston. I wish they would send our regiment to some point for garrison duty and leave us there the balance of our time, we have had our share of both fighting and hard marching for one campaign or enlist-ment.

I am glad the election is over and that the Ohio Patriots have done their duty so nobly and have politically killed her greatest and boldest traitor for ever and ever.

Yes I have lost my little twin brother and sister. I seems as though they were just sent to smooth the ruffled surface of our grief at the loss of our dear Lizzie and Casper - that done and they were called home to rejoin those dear ones and beckon us to come too.

I suppose your parsonage is finished by this time and you and Aunt Deb are at home again. Hope she had a pleasant visit at her father's. I should like to see you drill your company. I could look on with a kind of professional eye. I have not heard from the Sheely boys or Maria for a long time. Write again and frequently. I am always glad to get your letters. Give my love to Aunt Deb.

Thursday, Nov. 12, 1863

Drill and dress parade today. Reading the "Fair Rebel" today. Part of First brigade went on board a steam-ship bound for Texas. Took my drum apart to have new hoops made for it - Henry Deetz was to make them but did not - could not cross the bay.

Friday, Nov. 13, 1863

Fix my drumhead on again and splice the old hoop. Write to Mother, Ida and Love and to Lizzie. Sent copy of Risinger's diary to Mother. Received a letter from Cicero.

Berwick, La., Nov. 13, 1863

You will be surprised to see this letter headed Berwick when my last written to Ida was from New Iberia and we were then on provost duty with a fair prospect of remaining for some time. But such was not our good fortune. We had no sooner got everything fixed up neatly for a winter's stay till we were ordered to march back to Berwick. You may judge we were surprised for we thought our force large enough to hold our position and could not understand why we were falling back. True our advance had been surprised and had lost many prisoners but were not defeated. The army was then slowly falling back. Gen. Burbage's Division was lying at Round-about Bayou, 14 miles beyond Vermillionville. The paymaster had visited them - was just going to pay them off when the rebels came rushing into camp killing and wounding some and taking more prisoners. Our fellows soon rallied and charged on the rebels, drove them from the field, not, however, before they had destroyed all our camp equipage, etc. Our loss was 40 killed, 70 wounded and 535 missing. The rebels left 100 dead on the field, don't know how many wounded they had -- we got some prisoners but not near so many as they did. Our regiment brought 52 down with us. This surely was not the cause of our falling back. It is supposed that Gen. Banks is at Brownsville, Texas and they say our expedition was a success - that we did not intend to go further than Oppolousas -- only went to draw the rebel troops from Texas, while Banks got a foot-hold there. They had left Brownsville a week before Banks got there and was not expecting him at all. We are now awaiting transportation to join Banks. The 8th and 18th Indiana, part of our 1st brigade started yesterday. Banks lost five of his transports in a storm on the Gulf while they were returning. This will delay us a little and we may not get away from here for a week or more.

Our regiment was fortunate for once since leaving home. We had 52 prisoners and a large train of empty wagons to guard so we put our prisoners in front with a guard which was relieved every now and then and the rest of us piled into the wagons and rode till we came to Franklin, 28 miles and then we went aboard a boat with a portion of the 1st brigade and came the rest of the way by water. We have been here two days.

I received your notes in Mother's letter yesterday. I wish I had been there when you brought your cider home. It has been a long time since I had a drink of cider or eat any apples. I saw some apples yesterday - they were little bits of things no bigger than a walnut with the hull on and were half rotten. How do think they sold them? You will scarcely believe me when I tell you "three for a quarter" and they went like hot cakes at that.

I suppose Frank Wilson won't be here for some time yet and I won't get Ida's pin cushion for a while as they are not yet exchanged. You did not tell me who is going to teach your winter school. Julia says Henry McConnel was to see you. What kind of a fellow is he, Julia? Was his wife with him? I suppose not or you would have said something about her. Give my love to all - keep a large portion for yourselves and write soon again to your brother, Tom.

Berwick, La., Friday Morn., Nov. 13, 1863

I received your more than welcome letter yesterday. I have answered Ida and Julia's part and now will write a few scattered thoughts to you just as they come into my mind. I have told the girls all the news, etc, etc. and will have to write of other matters less grand or exciting but probably none the less interesting. I was much interested in your account of the Brough meeting in Millersburg. I was anxious to hear from there, how it went off etc. I should so like to have been there. I'll bet had companies B and E of the 16th O.V.I. marched from the depot up through Main Street they would gather a larger crowd than the procession did and cause more excitement than even John Brough himself.

While we were at Vermillionville we heard the boys were exchanged and coming to the regiment - we expected to meet them every day. The day before, we came back to New Iberia Col. Kershner met us. He told me the boys were exchanged and thought they were in New Orleans then -- said he expected they would meet us at New Iberia. We looked for them all the time we were there - watched the soldiers as they would come up on the boat expecting to see some familiar face - but we watched in vain - they did not come. Lieut. Boling and Warner Hall joined us here they knew nothing of them. When we got back here we learned there was no exchange at all, that the boys were still at Camp Chase, that the Commissioners could not agree on the numbers.

I am very glad you sent me those ten stamps I was almost out and wrote in my last for some. They came in the very nick of time. I hope this will reach you before Frank starts and you will not send me either my vest or those socks. I have as many socks as I like to carry -- have four pair, all good as new - two you sent me, the others new home made captured at Champion Hills never worn until I got them. I had no thoughts of you having a chance to send me a vest and bought a new one while at New Iberia. Yes I put in a full ticket for Brough and all the Union Candidates. I am glad to hear Abe Weatherwax is getting better - he is a good soldier. I have copied off Sammy Risinger's diary because it goes farther back than mine. I send it home for future reference. You will find it interesting.

How do the Valandinghamites bear their defeat? I guess the old traitor is good for two more years residence in Canada - by that time he will become naturalized and stay there I hope. You never told me before that you had a girl. If Newt had not told me Isabel Torbett was at our house I should not have known who you meant by Isabel. I expect my next will be dated some-where in Texas. I will send part of this diary in the little girl's letter.

Berwick Bay, La., Friday Eve. Nov. 13, 1863

Little did I think when I wrote you last seated in my gay little lodge at New Iberia that my next written in less than a week afterwards would be headed and written at Berwick's Bay - almost our starting point. We did not get to stay in our comfortable quarters but three nights before we had to leave them and fall back to our present encampment. I am hardly able to tell why we fell back but the general opinion now is that our object was accomplished, that we only went up to Oppolousas to draw the rebel forces while Banks effected a landing twelve miles from there without much resistance as the army had left there a week before to repel the Yankee hordes who were infesting Louisiana. As soon as we received our orders we began to fall back slowly. The rebels made a dash on Gen. Berbage's division - drove them from their breakfast and greenbacks )They were to be paid off and the paymaster was with them) killing 40, wounding 70 and taking 535 prisoners. Our troops rallied and charging back drove them from the field with a loss of 100 killed and many wounded and some prisoners. We lost all our baggage and camp equipage but saved the money. Our regiment guarded 52 prisoners as we came down.

The 16th Ohio was fortunate for once. We had a large train of empty wagons to bring down with us and the prisoners. We put the prisoners with a guard in front of the wagons then we piled into the wagons and started, rode 28 miles to Franklin where we found three boats with our 1st brigade on board. We went on with them and came the rest of the way on the boat. We are waiting for transportation to join Banks in Texas. Part of our 1st brigade the 8th and 18th Indiana went aboard a steam-ship and sailed down the bay yesterday. Banks lost five ships in a storm as they were coming from him to take more troops out. This will delay us some and we will scarcely get away from here for a week yet. I hope to hear from you again before we leave here for I expect a long time without letters when we leave here. We are just getting the returns of the election and glorious news it is.

Saturday, Nov. 14, 1863

Ike McCullough, Jon't Williams, Bill Williams and Sam Gray come up to the regiment this morning. Wrote to Cicero, Tom Bird and a letter to New Orleans for Gault. The rest of the 1st and all of the 2nd brigade went across the bay to go to New Orleans this morning.

Sunday, Nov. 15, 1863

Day cool but not cold. Had a long chat with Ike McCullough today. Had a long talk with Raymond Fenner tonight.

Monday, Nov. 16, 1863

Mending my pants this morning. Reading tracts. Bought a new diary from Robertson for 50 cents.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1863

Was shaved by George Adams and wrote a letter for him in return. The 11th Wisconsin and part of the 21st Iowa go to Algiers today. Cleaned up our quarters for a big inspection.

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1863

Orders came about one o'clock last night to be ready to move this morning at five o'clock. Reveille at three o'clock A.M. and in ranks at daylight. Cross the bay about noon and go into camp near the railroad. Difficult to get tent timber.

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1863

Move our tents this morning into lines of divisions. Drew blankets and Raymond Fenner and I make our bed together. The 42nd and 120th Ohio went toward Algiers to guard the rail-road. Raining this evening.

Friday, Nov. 20, 1863

Wrote letters to Hen Levingston and to the Republican. Raymond Fenner and I went down town and got a lot of sugar and a paper of Alspice.

Brashear City, La., Nov. 20, 1863

Mr. Griffith - Sir: It has been a long time since I read a communication from the 16th Ohio in the Republican. Perhaps another from this old tattered remnant of a once large and, may I say, fighting regiment, may not be uninteresting to your many readers, at least those who have friends here.

We are now encamped near the railroad station, of Brashear City, on a level piece of ground which at one time, no doubt, brought forth a luxuriant crop of sugar cane; at least it is left in ridges something like the rows of a Holmes County sweet potato patch. These rows serve to give exercise to all the muscles of the leg, while walking over them, thus relieving the monotony of a level plain, not blessed by these small irregularities.

We came across the bay day before yesterday, and expected to go on to New Orleans in a few days, thence to embark for Texas. The first brigade of our division is already on its way across the briny gulf, part of the second brigade is waiting at New Orleans for transportation, while we are garrisoning Brashear City. A part of our brigade was sent forward some forty miles to protect a railroad bridge which, it is reported, the rebels are trying to capture and destroy.

The health of our regiment never was better than it is now. There has not been a single death in the regiment since we left Carrollton. We have made one campaign of nearly two months, marched over two-hundred miles and returned, without losing a single man. Surely the war is coming to an end! Convalescents are coming in from Carrollton every few days. Issac McCullough, Samuel Gray, William Williams and James J. Williams, of Co. B., and William Harbaugh, of Co. E., rejoined us last Saturday morning, looking much better than when we left them. Jacob Hostetler and Samuel Farra are still back, but are getting better.

This addition increases our number to thirty-one men. Where are the other seventy-seven, who were our companions when we left Millersburg two years ago?

Saturday, Nov. 21, 1863

A mail came in this evening. Received letters from Lizzie, Ellie Williams and Lizzie Shera and a Republican of Oct. 29th. Orders to move in the morning at six o'clock. Fenner on duty tonight.

Sunday, Nov. 22, 1863

Up at three o'clock this morning and on the cars and started by eight o'clock A.M. Arrived safely at Algiers about one o'clock P.M. Were met at the depot by our paroled men. Considerable excitement for awhile and congratulations. Frank Wilson brought me my vest and two pair of socks. Received a letter from Father.

Monday, Nov. 23, 1863

Raymond Fenner and I went up town this morning. Were looking at the ships. Saw the Portsmouth, Pensacola, two of ours, and English and French man-of-war. Learned more about a ship than I ever knew before.

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1863

Wrote a long letter (No. 1) to Lizzie and gave it to the 114th Ohio to mail. Aroused soon after we went to bed to get ready to go on board the ship. Came aboard the Steam-ship St. Mary about two o'clock in the night. Drew a cap.

Algiers, La., Nov. 24, 1863

I received your letter of Oct. 21st last Saturday evening just before leaving Brashear City. We left there Sunday morning and came here on the cars the same day. Algiers as I told you in a former letter is just across the river from New Orleans. I do not know how long we will stay here, a large steam-ship is now lying at the wharf to take a load of troops to Texas but whether we will go on this ship or not I can't tell. Am not very particular. The first thing we saw when the train stopped here Sunday evening were our Chickasaw Bluffs prisoners. You may bet we were glad to meet them again. They are exchanged and were just waiting for a train to take them to Brashear City to meet us. They were out on dress parade with us last evening and I tell you now it made a vast improvement in the size of the regiment. We looked more like a regiment than we have ever done since the battle of Chickasaw Bayou. They came very near not meeting us at all for as they came down the river they were fired into by a large force of rebels and had it not been for the fog they would have been captured again. There were about 12,000 rebels -- part on one side of the river and part on the other side. They were trying to cross into Arkansas. The Captain of the boat wanted to surrender his boat but the boys threatened to shoot him if he did. They at first thought it was guerrillas and wanted to land and flax them out -- it would have been fatal to them had they gone ashore.

I expect we lose a great many letters by those guerrillas taking and burning so many boats. I received the letters you directed to Carrollton. I think it will be a good idea to number our letters and then we can always tell whether we lose any or not. I will mark this No. 1 and you mark its answer the same. I hope our numbers will not have to run very high before we can bring an end to their career -- lay down the pen and resume the tongue.

We will soon be only nine months men and the boys all begin to feel it. They go round now pushing one another about with "get out of my way you are only a nine month man." Many think we will be discharged in June. You remember of seeing in the papers that the old troops enlisted in the first three hundred thousand and all will be discharged in June 1864. There is policy in it for if they are discharged in the spring any amount of the boys will re-enlist before the fall following if the war continues - thus Government will gain at least six months service by letting us off in the Spring.

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1863

Got off about noon today and steamed down the river. Passed Forts Pickens and Jackson shortly after dark -- too dark to see anything. Saw Jackson's battle field war of 1812. Came on to the Gulf of Mexico about 10 o'clock at night - was asleep at the time. Mail distributed on the ship this P.M. Received letters from Lizzie and John F. Linn.

Thursday, Nov. 26, 1863

Wakened up this morning and found ourselves far out on the Gulf - out of sight of land. Ship runs very steadily. Saw a large school of porpoises sporting in the water.

Friday, Nov. 27, 1863

Gulf rougher this morning causing ship to roll. Boys sea-sick and vomiting all day. I was quite sick but vomited only once. Hailed a brig that was captured by a gunboat in Frazier river. Came up to Blockading fleet this evening and in sight of land. Wind rising and blowing a gale. At anchor off Decrow's Point.

Saturday, Nov. 28, 1863

Wind blowing very hard and ship rolling awfully. Very cold - keep in bed all day to keep warm. Ship at anchor all day. Night. Wind still rising coming from the North West - a regular "Nor'wester."

Sunday, Nov. 29, 1863

Wind blew hard all night. Ship dragged her anchor thirty-two miles out to sea. Raised anchor about one o'clock at night and started back. Have forty-five miles to run today. Sun out and getting warmer. Anchor off St. Joseph's Island.

Monday, Nov. 30, 1863