Soldier's Letter, Civil War, 114th NY Regiment

 Oxford Times, June 3, 1863

Letter from the 114th NY Regiment

Mr. Editor: To know our situation you must go back with me to the 9th of April, when we crossed Berwick's Bay with Gen. Weitzel's Brigade with nothing but 3 days rations and blankets, with one change of under clothes, bivouacked on the south shore until the 11th, when we took our line of march up the Bay towards Palisonville, marching for the battle field, but did not have a long march, not over 2 miles before the pickets engaged each other.  Our cavalry was skirmishing at our head and it became necessary to send out our Olive branch in the form of a shell, our compliments in that shape were sent often during the day. We slept that night on our arms, and at the dawn of day the preparation was making for the march. At seven we were in line and fighting our way up the tash with Capt. Barots and Capt. Perkin's cavalry still skirmishing in advance, and nobler Commanders are not in our army, nor braver men ever sat on saddles than those that followed them. We passed Palisonville without the loss of a man.  We took several prisoners on the road yesterday the eleventh.  

The 12th brought no change until near night when we were drawn up in line of battle and passed our batteries for their support if necessary.  We had not arrived to our position before the rebel batteries opened fire on us.  (I use the word us for the 114th, were in front) The first shot from the Diana (the gunboat that was taken from us a few weeks since)  grounded in front of the 114th, within a few rods of Co. A.  All seemed calm and composed, the line did not break or waver, but at the left of the colors where Co. H was we had not much time to look in that direction as another shot passed over us, killing two horses six rods in the rear.  The piece of artillery they were drawing was a fine, brass piece. We were soon down in a ditch, and the gun seeking revenge.  It is useless to say that the 114th lay very close to the ground, for we do not call it bravery to stand and see a rebel shell burst if we can get out of range.  The battle raged only one hour and twenty minutes, and we retired for the night amid a shower of shells from the rebel batteries not doing much damage, a few only slightly wounded. One shell burst in the rear of our Company, slightly wounding Corporal Wellock in the neck, James Sandell in the foot, slightly, Dwight F. Taylor very slightly in the head.  Perhaps some copperhead will say the Yankees were whipped.  Let me invite him to the field.  

On the next day at an early hour we again took the field in nearly the same order extending the left Wing to the woods. The engagement commenced near the same ground we left the night before, and four guns opened on the Diana for the space of half an hour, and the rebel flag kept up the Bayou tash.  She was in command of a Texan calling himself the Yankee eater, had pledged himself to go to New Orleans with her, but while she bore away the rebel flag she also bore the remains of the Yankee eater, the Diana was silenced.

The engagement became general along the whole line, which lasted during the day, but the rebel batteries were nearly silenced when darkness put an end to the bloody scene. We had but few killed, I was informed by one of our men that was detailed to bury the dead, that they buried only 18 of our men, and he believed there was not more than 36 in all, and to guess off the wounded I should say one hundred.  Gen Grover's division on the other side of the Bayou suffered greater loss.  

Most of the day the 114th lay in a cane field under a heavy fire of musketry, but escaped with the loss of one man.  James hill of Smithville, was shot through the head at 4 o 'clock in the afternoon of the 12th, died on the morning of the 13th at 9 o'clock.  He proved himself a good soldier and left his work well done, and died a death that none need blush for. 

The officers behaved like brave men, and the 114th Regt. will never make the Empire State blush for their nots on the battle field.  Gen. Weitzel was heard to say the 114th is the best new regiment he ever saw under fire. The coolness of the men astonished me, although I have often wrote that I had arrived at the point where nothing astonished me.  Chenango and Madison Co's may well be proud of the noble sons they have sent here to crush out this unholy rebellion, and Bainbridge may have the honor of furnishing some noble young men that would not like to have their names mentioned in praise here, but will be remembered by the writer while life lasts. Also DeRuyter has done her share, and Oxford need not blush for any from there.  There was many of Co. H, left sick at Brashear City.  

On the 13th we renewed the attack and found the enemy leaving us on a forced march after 3 days fight. The enemy undertook to make a stand at Franklin, but only had time to throw one shot and a few charges of railroad iron and left. We drove them to Vermilion river, 40 miles toward Red river from New Ibera. There the 114th was ordered to return to Brashear City and relieve the country of what cattle, mules, horses they had, and of all droves this excels.  We found no trouble on the way back. After we arrived at New Ibera, Co's F and H were detached from the Regiment to take charge of 159 prisoners. The uniforms and shoes of the rebels are as has been described, clothes of all kinds and colors, shoes like Hen's teeth, rather scarce. I would give more of the particulars of this march if time would admit. Suffice it to say 80 miles of the best part of Louisiana is stripped by the 114th and the army still moving on to Red river and the rebels are universally whipped.    J.