Oxford Times, June 10, 1863
114th NY Regiment, Beecher's Hospital, Berwick City, La, May 16th, 1863
Mr. Editor: Since the last battle on Bayou Teche, Berwick and Brashear cities have presented quite a lively appearance. Several new hospitals have been established and most of the sick and wounded of General Banks army has been brought to these two places. Gunboats are arriving, and departing daily. Transports loaded with cotton and sugar land their precious cargoes upon the dock at Brashear city. From there it is taken by rail to New Orleans. Large droves of horses, mules, cattle, sheep and goats, have been brought here and pastured, many of them have been butched for the troops stationed about this place. Large numbers of contrabands have also been arriving since the fight, and for a few days past our increase in population must be tremendous. Gen. Banks, has lately issued an order for raising 18 regiments of colored troops in this Department. The work has already been commenced in good earnest. Not only in this place, but at Baton Rough, New Orleans and other places. The negroes are enlisting rapidly, and filling up the Regiment. The regiment that is already organized, is well officered by men that have seen from twelve to eighteen months service. I was informed by a captain, that the colonel was a native of this place. When the war broke out he remained true to the 'old flag' and by so doing came near losing his life. He was seized by the rebels, and a rope placed about his neck to hang him, he however escaped, went to New York and enlisted in a N.Y. Regiment, and was commissioned as Lieutenant, from that he was promoted to Captain, and now he is back home as Colonel of a colored Regiment. Last Friday, a large number of recruits were brought in. They were collected about Newtown. The crowd was composed of all classes, male, and female, old, and young, such a sight I never before witnessed; some were mounted upon mules, others were carrying large bundles upon their heads. Old carts were loaded down with worthless trash, mules bent beneath the combined weight of a wench and family of children. The procession halted in the center of the place. Here friends met friends, that had come before. It was interesting to listen to their conversation; they all appeared to be feeling their best, and in high spirits. How ye do Frank? say one. Oh right smart! Ye gwine ober de Bay? Yes! hab ye meets Joe? Oh yes, Joe big man, he in de kumany ober dah\, yah! ha! ha!
The men were soon formed in line, and with the aid of one or two colored sergeants, the ranks were opened, and the officers who had them in charge proceeded to pick out "the halt, the lame, and the blind." These will be placed upon the plantations with the women and children to raise sugar, and cotton. The strong able bodied men were then taken over to Brashear, and were regularly examined by an army surgeon. Those that passed were uniformed, armed, and equipped, and placed in the camp of instruction. I was informed by an officer who was present at the medical examination, that many of their backs looked like a checkerboard, they were so cut up with scars. yesterday, another company of some five or six hundred, arrived and went through the proceedings as the other company. They have all been taken over the Bay, old, and young. They are fed at Uncle Sam table, and I suppose are under his protection.
The soldiers make a very fine appearance, in their new uniforms. They are mostly straight, large, well developed men . I think that it is mostly owing to the custom of carrying things upon the head that gives them such a straight, high headed appearance.
Gen. Banks forces are mostly at and around Alexandria. This Department is pretty well cleared of rebels at present. Hardly one dare show his head this side of the Red River. Many of the prisoners taken in the late battle have taken the oath of allegiance, and many others would like to stay, and enjoy protection instead of fighting Confederate battles. They are in no hurry to get back, at least those that I have talked with are not. Most of them seem to have quite a liking to our uniforms, the confederate sick, and wounded in our hospitals are nearly half dressed in our clothes. Most of them think that they done fighting enough. The main hope of the rebels now hangs on England and northern copperheads. They say that England will interfere and that the north is already divided. I trust that they are mistaken. Words are inadequate to convey the disgust that the soldiers feel towards Northern copperheads. I fear some of them would fare hard if our soldiers were at home. At least I have heard them say that they would knock down the first copperhead they met. The sick, and wounded are doing well and gaining rapidly. Many of them will soon be able to rejoin their regiments. W.E.
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