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?