William Nicholson to Mary A. Nicholson, September 28, 1861

New Orleans
Sept. 28, 1861

Dear Sister-
I believe that I wrote to you yesterday and it does not look reasonable that I should write again today but as I have come so far and seen so many different places in so short a time I think you will excuse me. Well, I left New Iberia (which by the way is a very pleasant and beautiful place) about 4 o'clock yesterday evening on the steamer T. D. Hine, came down the Bayou Tash [Teche] to Berwick's Bay which is about 75 miles, arriving at Berwick before day light this morning. We met some 4 or 5 steamers during the night. Berwick City is not much of a place.

I forgot to tell you that the citizens of Iberia sent us provisions for our dinner yesterday, and made some soup for us all. The country down the Bayou is very rich and a great many wealthy persons live on it, mostly sugar planters. Their Negro cabins make quite a little village. The ladies cheered us from both sides and threw bouquets at us, one lady threw a pair of woolen socks on board which made considerable scrambling in order to get them first. * * *

Well, I left Berwick this morning about 6 ½ o'clock, arrived at N. O. 80 miles distant at 12 o'clock, crossed the Mississippi in a steamboat, and came through the city to our camping place. I first went to the P. O. but got no letter. Some of the Company recd. letters, I was disappointed. Col. Terry is in this place. He is not certain where we shall go but believes he will receive orders to go to Kentucky. I think we will stay here until Monday next, if so it will afford me a better opportunity to look at the city. I expect it will be very hard to keep some of the men straight as some of them are inclined to get drunk and cut up. The Capt. told them all when they started on their march that he would put them on double duty for every offense. He told them this evening that if any of them got drunk while here he would not let them leave the camps. I must go to roll call now, and it is about dark.

From your Brother,

Wm. Nicholson

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.