Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 30, 1863
U.S. Marine Hospital, New Orleans, La., Dec. 18, 1863
I have nothing at present particularly of interest to communicate, except such as you will find in the general news.
The 19th army corps - what remains of it - is at New Iberia, though there is a prospect of their moving back to Franklin, perhaps to Brashear City. The 13th army corps are upon the Rio Grande, and have captured, as you may know, Brownsville, Esperanzo, Fort Cavallo and Corpus Christi. Other places by this time are probably in the possession of Federal troops.
Enclosed I send you from the Era supplement of yesterday an account of the "treatment of our soldiers in Texas," in which mention is made of our friend and townsman, Dwight Parce. From this account and from intelligence previously received, I am fearful "Dwight" is having a hard time of it. We sincerely hope that he may be brought out of this worse than "Egyptian bondage" alive; but from the state of his health when taken, and from what he must have suffered since, and is suffering now, we have well grounded fears for the worst. He was a good kind man, and has the sympathy of our Regiment and all who knew him; but mere sympathy in this case, as in the case of most or very many Union prisoners within the rebel lines, or even efforts and measures, however well directed, for their relief, seems to be of but little avail.
Well, such is war, and such, among many, are the evils that flow from it. When will "this cruel war" be over and how will it end? That's the question!
Col. Per Lee, who has proved himself a competent and efficient officer, and Edward Hayes, son of E.T. Hayes, Esq., sail for New York today, and will be home probably ere this reaches you.
Lt. Colo. Rexford, who has been successful in his advancement, and found to be every whit worthy of it, sails in a day or so, if he has not already, for the North. I have become acquainted with a good many of his regiment in hospitals, here and at Berwick City, and they all speak in the highest terms of the Major, now Lt. Colonel, Willie Rexford.
Rev. T.I. Williams, Chaplain of the 131st N.Y., who for some time has been on post duty here, as Chaplain of the Marine, and of whom I have previously spoken as a friend and admirer of the lamented Col. Smith, recently died at this Hospital, after a lingering illness. His funeral was attended yesterday, from Christ's Chruch, with military honors, his remains being deposited in the "American Cemetery" of this city. He was a worthy man, faithful in the discharge of his duties, and in his attentions to the sick, and his loss is severely felt.
We are having quite a "cold spell" just now, without snow or frost, which to us northerners is very welcome and refreshing indeed. Especially is this "cold snap" a God send, as the old "Gallinippers," the tormentors of our life, well known as a detestable varmin, have taken a "gentle hint" and considerably "gone up."
Yours, H.H.B.
It appears from the supplement alluded to above, that Mr. Parce and other prisoners arrived at the rebel camp Groce, near Houston, on the 1st of August last. The only other allusion to Mr. Parce in the account is the following:
"Of the citizens, (when the writer left camp Groce) Mr Parce was very sick, and it was thought he would die. Mr. Edward Stratton, Mr. Chas. Knowlton and Mr. Haley were told that they would soon be sent to Mexico via Eagle Pass, above Brownsville, and by this time they are probably on their way to this city. Their numerous friends here will be glad to learn of the prospect for their speedy relief from captivity."
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Note: See posting to this blog of November 30, 2020 for a transcription of a letter from the same author, describing the death of Dwight Parce in the confederate prison at Camp Groce, Texas, published in the Chenango Union, February 24, 1864.
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