Letter from NY 114th Regiment - 1863

Letter from the New York 114th Regiment

Chenango American, April 2, 1863

Headquarters 114th Regt.
Brasher City, La.
Tuesday, March 17, 1863

Dear American, A ray of light again shines upon our unhappy land--so bright and gladdening that our hearts beat with a new and stronger pulsation, and hope from a drooping state of uncertainty, lifts up her head and smiles as she looks at the future. A noble name has added new laurels to an already bright crown--the name Farraout.

During the night of the 14th inst., the fighting Admiral under cover of the darkness proceeded up the Mississippi with his fleet, which has been lying at Baton Rouge since Banks' arrival here, and boldly ran by the vaunted batteries of Port Hudson, the flag ship Hartford leading the squadron. There seems to have been no casualties resulting from the fire of the rebels, but the noble steam frigate Mississippi ran aground  upon some shifting sand bar, and her commander, after vainly endeavoring to get her off was compelled to blow her up.  Thus, the twin sister of the Merrimac, has shared her unhappy fate. The officers and crew of the noble vessel were all removed without the loss of a man.

The importance of this movement cannot be too highly estimated, for it cuts the last connecting link of the rebels with their supplies of salt and beef and corn they have been receiving form Texas by the way of Red river.  It will threaten Vicksburgh with a new terror, and make that stronghold of traitors totter and fall under the terrible thunder of Porter's mortars.

Even away down here in the southwest corner of Louisiana we are having "picket firing," and it does us good to see a half dozen men delay twice that number, and make them fly like cowardly curs as they are. A few days ago a gunboat landed eight men from the 75th N.Y.S.V.'s on the opposite side of the Bay, and they were ordered to protect a working party from surprise, and also to look around and see what they could see. They were landed a half a mile below our camp (our camp is on the extreme north of the brigade) and we watched them as they slowly walked up the bayou, peering into empty houses and deserted sugar mills, until they had passed above us a considerable distance.  Of a sudden a volley was heard, and a thin blue cloud arose from the edge of the swamp, and a party of horsemen dashed out of the woods to cut them off, but the boys reserved their fire, and commenced retreating in good order. We soon found that the rebels dare not charge upon the boys while their guns were all loaded, and as only one or two fired at a time, the secesh kept at long range, contenting themselves with following up and firing with their double barreled guns.  As our boys commenced firing and kept it up, a battery, the 1st U.S. Battery of regulars, unlimbered and sent a shell in the direction of the cavalry, which burst immediately over their heads, scattering them and unhorsing two (By the way, these regulars are down on all seceshdom since the publication of an article in the New Orleans Era describing the inhuman treatment received by the 8th regular regiment of infantry in Texas, and on every occasion they are crazy to fire shot and shell at a rebel;--and that feeling is growing in our own regiment).  Every day since our pickets were attacked, there has been more or less firing, and even now as I write, the crack of rifles are heard, and the trees that line the shore on this side of the Bayou are filled with men, anxious to see a rebel fall. 

Wednesday, March 18:  Last night the long roll was beat for the first time in the camp of the 114th Reg. and in ten minutes from the time of the first alarm, we were drawn up in line of battle, guns loaded and bayonets fixed.  I did not know that we were going to have a brush, for just at dark a report came to camp by a refugee that a large body of rebels had crossed the bayou eight miles above for the purpose of destroying the railroad bridges between this point and Lafourche, but we were disappointed, for it seems that Gen Weitzel had ordered the same things to be done in the other camps of this brigade and we could hear the drums beat "to arms" long after we had fallen in line. We recieved a compliment and after a countermarch or two were dismissed.  It was wonderful to see how soon men that were sick, and had been for days and weeks, became convalescent, marching out apparently strong, and well prepared for battle.

The 114th Reg is rapidly improving in battalion movements and the manual of arms under a drill master furnished us by Gen. Weitzel, since the well remembered day when he got off his horse and exercised ua, and if our staff officers will only learn  as fast as the privates do, and remember what they are taught, we shall have more confidence of success on the day of battle.

Thursday, 19th:  This morning an accident occurred in Co E which will lay up for weeks some of its best members.  Co. K, was being drilled in sham firing, and its orderly went into his tent to get his gun and took up the wrong one, there being two standing side by side, one of which had been loaded and the cap taken off the -?- to prevent accident.  The Lieutenant in charge to see how simultaneously his company could fire, ordered the boys to put caps on their guns.  At the order "ready, aim, fire," the orderly's gun exploded sending shell through two tents striking the left arm of Jeduthan Kendall (of East Greene) near the elbow, but I believe the bone was not touched.  No blame is charged to the orderly of Co. K, by our officers, though I think it a pretty careless piece of business.

The officers of the different regiments in this brigade have been drafting resolutions and addressing them to the people of their respective States, praying and protesting against all "peace movements" declaring that the officers and men would submit to no measures that did not give to the United States government all that it claims; and the 114th will soon forward to the different newspapers of Chenango and Madison counties the voice of the regiment in regards to such meetings.  I will try and furnish your readers with a copy of such resolutions as the committee may draft, by the first steamer.

Our General either expects an attack from the rebels, or else he is getting extremely cautious, for he has ordered that all troops in this command shall be called up at 3 o'clock A.M. and stand under arms from that time until day light.  Yesterday our cavalry had a skirmish with the rebel cavalry, and several horses on our side were disabled, but no soldiers hurt.

Respectfully yours.    A.