William Nicholson to Mary A. Nicholson, September 27, 1861

New Iberia, La.
Sept. 27/61

Miss Mary A. Nicholson,
Bastrop, Texas.
Bastrop. Co.

Dear Sister--
I arrived at this place last night after dark and this morning there is a cold norther blowing. I thought I would tell you something of my trip from Niblett's Bluff but I am afraid it would be a very difficult undertaking. We had to walk through mud and water sometimes over our knees, but generally not so deep. The country is very thinly settled, until we get in about 25 or 30 miles of this place, and they are all French. The Capt. pressed some ox-carts back so we did not have to walk all the way. I thought it was the longest 150 miles I ever saw. We have been nearly a week on the road. There was some sickness among the men but nothing serious. I have been very well all the time until yesterday evening, when I had a little headache from eating too much sugar cane. I did without my supper last night except a cup of coffee in order that I would be perfectly well this morning, which I am and I eat a hearty breakfast this morning at a French Hotel. Quite a number of our Company were invited to a private house to supper last night. I wished then that I had never seen any sugar cane.

I have had coffee to drink nearly all the time, had to do without either sugar or milk sometimes. Coffee is very high here. It is worth from 40c to 50c lb. I got so used to drinking coffee without sugar that I did not discover there was no sugar in my coffee this morning until I saw someone else putting sugar in theirs-I had for breakfast chicken, ham, beef, scrambled eggs, corn bread, light bread and butter, which I thought delightful. Some of the boys said when they were coming through the mud that they would remember old Lincoln on account of the mud and fight him the harder when they got to old Virginia. But I hear this morning that it is doubtful whether we go there as there is some probability of us being sent to Kentucky, which is very likely. There is not much news. I read a paper this morning that was published in N. O. yesterday. We will start from here this evening, I think. The Boat came up last night. She wants to wait until another Co. comes up and take us both down. We will be in N. O. tomorrow or next day, and then from there direct to Richmond, Va., where we will get our horses, and then go to Ky. * * * I am anxious to get to N. O. as I expect to hear from home. It is believed here that Galveston will be taken by the enemy. I hope it will not be so. As it will be almost impossible to recapture it. I reckon the Lincolnites think all the fighting men have left Texas, but they will find themselves mistaken.

Well, I believe I have nothing else to write about at present. You must excuse this short letter from your Brother,

Wm. Nicholson.

P.S. Give my love to all and tell them I am perfectly well and hearty.

W. N.

Jones, Margaret Belle, ed. Bastrop; a compilation of material relating to the history of the town of Bastrop, with letters written by Terry Rangers. Bastrop: NP. 1936.

 

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