2

From the 118th Regiment.

October 13th, 1864.

Eds. Whig & Republican: — Thinking that perhaps the friends of this regiment would like to hear something from their old friends, I take this opportunity to inform them that this brave regiment is now camped in a beautiful spot opposite Donaldsonville, La., on what is termed Hermitage Plantation. It is employed in guarding government plantations, picking up rebels who chance to venture too near, and anything else that will conduce to the welfare of the glorious old Union we have sacrificed home and friends to defend. The regiment is now commanded by our Lieut. Colonel, Thomas Logan, a gentleman and officer in every sense of the word. Rebels receive but little sympathy at his hands. We are sorry, though, that his health is fast giving away under the hardships of camp life. Our Colonel, John G. Fonda, is at Baton Rouge, some fifty miles above, in command of the 2d cavalry brigade. An expedition went out from there lately to scour the adjacent country, and the advance was commanded by him, whom the rebels have long since learned to dread. There was a division of cavalry in all, commanded by that brave cavalry officer, Gen. A. L. Lee. — They brought in 150 prisoners, including a number of officers, 200 horses and mules, and a great number of negroes who followed after them. Two confeds. were shot in trying to escape after being ordered to halt. Our regiment having plenty to attend to here, was not permitted to participate in this grand raid.

The regiment is enjoying excellent health, having lost but very few men the last year. We are having regular Louisiana fall weather, and as a natural consequence, the ague, the soldier's pest in these parts, bothers us considerably; but contagious diseases are rare. The medical department is now in charge of our 1st Assistant Surgeon, J. K. Bond, who is skilled in treating camp diseases, our Surgeon being absent at Baton Rouge as acting Division Surgeon.

The boys are having quite a jubilee over their drafted friends, having just received a list of the lucky ones in that great lottery, I can see them collected in groups around, reading the list. When they come to some Copperhead friend who has been as lucky as to draw a prize, a hearty shout goes up, with the exclamation — "Let their rebel friends shoot at them a few times, and then perhaps it will call back some of their loyalty, if they ever had any."

Should our regiment be allowed to vote we would give old Uncle Abe quite a "boost." We have fought too long, and sacrificed too many of our brave numbers, to turn rebels now, and cast many votes for "Little Mack," as his copper colored friends are pleased to call him. Of course, a few will be faint hearted enough to give him a vote if we should allowed the privilege of saying who shall be our next President. But not this is the democratic rule: The soldier who is fighting their battles shall be brutes; shall have no say in who shall govern him, while these foul mouthed creatures enjoy all the fruits of our labors. As we are to have no say, we beg our friends to be true to their trust, and send the man back to command the ship of state who has carried us safe through so many boisterous tempests in the last four years. Do not throw him overboard now that we are in sight of the shore, and substitute a man who says it is nearest to land to turn and go the other way out to sea. Stick to Old Abe; he will soon make a landing; an honorable landing. Those copper colored persons, who call themselves the soldiers' friends, ought to see and hear the epithets they get cast upon their heads by the soldiers. We do not claim such as our friends, as long as they persist in their present faint hearted course. Let them come out in hearty support of their government, and help us and give us something more than their "sympathies" while we squelch the little life there is remaining out of this infernal rebellion; and then we can appreciate their sympathies.

I am happy to state that we have a flourishing temperance society in full blast in our regiment. We miss the society of our lady friends here, too; but still we are going to live gentlemen and return to our friends as pure as when we took that sad farewell parting. Some 60 or 70 already belong to the society, and the cry is, "still they come."

It has been almost six months since we were greeted by the paymaster, but we hope to see him around with his greenbacks in a short time. I learn that our money is now at headquarters ready to be distributed.

Fearing that I will weary your patience, I will close for this time. Yours truly,
SERGT. J. W. STEVENS, Co. F.