Soldier's Letter, Civil War, July 1863

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, July 30, 1863

Letter from John C. Stoughton - 114th NY Infantry Regiment

We are glad to learn that John C. Stoughton was not killed in the battle at Port Hudson on the 14th ult, as we noticed last week.  He was taken a prisoner.  We are permitted to publish the following letter from him.

Donaldsonville, La., July 11, 1863

Dear Sister:  I received yours of May 3d, while encamped in the woods near Port Hudson and begin to think it about time to answer it.  You will excuse me this time I guess, when you hear what tedious times I have had for the last three weeks.

We were called up about one o'clock on the morning of June 14th, and marched around to the left.  Just as we got there the fight commenced.  The 4th Wis., 28th Conn., and 91st N.Y., deployed as skirmishers and charged on the fort.  Payne's Brigade and our Brigade were to support them, but it was an awful place to charge, logs, ravines, pitfalls slightly covered with brush, and the steady and terrible storm of bullets and buckshot made it slow work, and by the time the 114th charged up the slope, the ground was covered with the dead and wounded.  Col. Smith was mortally wounded, Capt. Tucker killed, and when Lieut. Searls, being in command of the Regiment, rallied us for the last charge I thought the chances rather against me, but determined to reach the parapet of the fort unless ordered to halt by a bullet.  Of all that started I believe I was the only one that jumped into the moat unhurt, but as it appeared I jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, for the works were so constructed that the rebels could rake the moat from several directions.  After jumping into the moat I was completely at the mercy of the enemy as they could put bullets at me from several directions,  I ran up into a corner where I thought to be tolerably safe, and calculated to wait until a sufficient force came on, and then charge over the parapet with them , but they did not appear.  Here I found a dozen men and a Lieut, who being badly wounded and at the mercy of forty rebels, had surrendered.  They ordered me to sit down and keep still or they would all be shot.  I thought under the circumstances "discretion the better part of valor," and therefore laid down and went to sleep.  About 11 A.M. our forces had withdrawn and the Rebels leveled a sufficient number of rifles at our heads and bade us walk in, which we did with the best possible grace.  After relieving us (about forty) of our extra side arms and accoutrements, they marched us up to the Provost Marshal's Office, took our decriptive list and marched us into a six sided enclosure built of spiles, some twenty feet high.  Here we found about thirty prisoners taken previous to this fight.  They welcomed us very cordially and gave us corn to eat, that being all the provision present at the time. We were reinforced in the course of the day by ten or twelve more, but there was not a man from the 114th in the whole crowd except your humble servant, and therefore I had the responsibility of representing that glorious regiment, and of course I did it to the best of my ability.

After a few days they took us uptown near the headquarters of Gen. Gardner, and put us in a room not a quarter large enough; the windows were barred up sufficient to keep out the fresh air, and we had nothing to lie upon but the bare brick floor.  If it had not been for our faith in Banks, and our spunk, the time would have passed rather slowly.  As there was nothing to sit upon, the officers in charge of us very considerately gave us permission to get a couple of benches form the church, and I made up my bed after that on one of them.  Being destitute of dishes, having left my things in camp, I had to borrow of the more fortunate. After a while I bought a plate, made a wooden spoon, and happening to have some Confederate treasury notes, I bought a rebel blanket, price $5, and then considered myself fixed. We were divided into 4 squads of 21 each and a cook appointed from each. They were allowed to go outdoors under guard to cook.  Our regular rations now consisted of sour meal made into what we called mush, or hasty pudding, and molasses for breakfast, beans or stock peas (I believe they are raised only for mules and cattle) and a little salt junk for dinner, and mush for supper. We also made corn coffee and parched corn whenever the commissary would condescend to give us any corn to parch.  You may think this rather light rations, but we had no exercise at all and we kept our health to a man, but came out looking not quite so dark colored as when we were marching up and down the Teche last spring.

After a few days, the rations began to decrease, and from 28 pounds of meal a day, we were reduced to 15, and the beef disappeared altogether.  We expected Gen. Banks in on the 4th, sure, but were disappointed, but we knew they could not hold out much longer. The rebel officers offered to parole us, but we concluded we would stay with them and help them eat their scanty fodder.  The sick, wounded and missing now averaged 100 per day, the beef and bacon had failed, and the news of the capture of Vicksburg, all combined, induced Gen. Gardner on the 8th to send out a flag of truce and negotiate a surrender.  We were set at liberty at 5 A.M. July 9th and I immediately found myself on one of the transports that had come down from their anchorage a few miles above, putting down the beef steak, cold ham, bread, coffee, &c. at a rate not to be beat in this department.  After satisfying the terrible cravings of my stomach, I with considerable difficulty got up the bluff to witness the surrender of 4,000 rebels and then began to look for Weitzel's old brigade and the 114th, which I soon found.  Many were the exclamations of surprise at seeing me alive as I afterwards found the report had been circulated that I was dead and buried. I found all the boys in our company alive, but some 15 wounded.

At 5 P.M. Weitzel's Division, consisting of our brigade and 4 others, embarked on steamers and landed here yesterday morning at 8 o'clock.  Gen Taylor, taking advantage of the absence of our troops had got reinforcements and captured Brashaer City (knapsacks and all) and the country from there up Bayou Lafourche, and tried to take the fort at this place, but was repulsed by the brave little garrison consisting of only 2 companies and a few convalescents of the 26th Maine. The rebels are only a few miles down the Bayou, said to be fortifying.  I don't anticipate much of a fight but think Weitzel will bag the whole of them. We will probably go down to Thibodaux and Brashear and retake those places.

Since landing here we have pitched into the green corn, tomatoes and other vegetables at a rate that would probably astonish the natives if there were any around.  We are having jolly good times now, and I think fasting 3 or 4 weeks has done me good.  My appetite is rather hard to satisfy, but I shall get down onto my feed after a while, I think.  We are having nice cool weather now, and are enjoying life hugely.

I almost forgot to say the rebels killed a few mules to eat for a few days before the surrender, and of course I ate a little, just to be in fashion.  It was first rate, a great deal better than poor Texas beef.

Well, I am getting short of paper and must close. Give my respects to all inquiring friends.  Hoping the downfall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson will have a crushing effect on this miserable war, I remain your affectionate brother,  John C. Stoughton.