Soldier's Letter, Civil War, November 1863

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, November 25, 1863

Letter from 114th New York Infantry Regiment

Vermillion River, La. Nov. 5, 1863

As I before told you, whenever anything of interest occurred you should not be wanting of information.  On Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 2 P.M., General Burridge's Brigade, a portion of the 18th Army Corps, encamped at Carrion Crow Bayou, twelve miles above Vermillion, was attacked by about four thousand mounted rebels.  It was rather a surprise and Burridge's men were driven from their camp. The rebels succeeded in capturing, destroying and scattering a greater portion of the camp equipage.  Gen. Washburn reinforced Burridge and the enemy was driven back, not however until he had given us a sharp fight.

Most of the fighting was in the woods.  The 18th Corps became masters of the position. One hundred of the enemy's dead were left on the field, but he succeeded in carrying off his wounded.  Our loss was forty killed and sixty wounded. An exchange of wounded was effected on the day following. We took about one hundred prisoners; the rebels about five hundred. The 19th Corps, which was encamped on Vermillion River, was turned out under arms at 1 A.M., Wednesday, and marched rapidly to the scene of the fight, as another fight was expected at daylight today.  It arrived at Carrion Crow at 7 A.M., remained there until this morning (Nov. 5).  No hostile attitude being assumed by the enemy it returned to its late quarters on Vermillion River. The 13th Corps likewise came down to Vermillion, two miles above the river. These are the facts in the case.  View them as you will.  Lay the blame where you choose.  Gen. Wietzel informed Col. Per Lee that he thought it disgraceful to our arms, and the result of carelessness and want of caution, if not neglect of duty of those in the front. The day has been very wet and unpleasant, and the troops are very tired, but will soon forget in sleep the weary march to Carrion Crow, fully resolved that Weitzel's old Brigade could never had not been caught napping.