Letters from Private William Brooks, Co E, 161st NYVI, 1864 April

"In camp near the Red River-April 5th.,

-1864. William R. Brooks to Jane Brooks

his wife and children."

"His last letter in the collection.

He again approves of her moving to

Woodhull."

[This was written after William's regiment had marched from southern Louisiana into the Red River country. In early April they camped near Natchitoches and Grand Ecore in some of the finest country they saw in the south. The letter dated April 26 is actually the last one from him.]

in camp neer red river April ?, 64

Dear wife I will write a little to you this

morning to let you know how I get A long

my health is not as good as it has bin

I am some lame but I hope I will be well in

A few days I hope this will find you well I

cent you 35 dollars by Mr. Hathaway and

my watch we got 4 months pay and we

have got 3 months doe us now I hope we will

get some more pay soon and then I will cend

you some more if your moving I cannot

tell what is best you must use your own

judgment and do the best you can if you

think best to go to woodhull I am willing

we have had A hard time for A while back

it has bin very dustey most all the time

but the most we whent in A day was 20

miles and some times not more than 6 or 7

so we could stand it but we have to go

on tomorrow I do not know when I

can get A chance to mail A letter again

- - - - -

for we are going up the river and some

times we cannot cend A letter 2 or 3 weeks

so you must not worry if you do not

hear from me in A long time but I will write

every chance and you must

I cannot write for my sholder is lame

so I will close write soon good bye

from Wm. R. Brooks to

Jane Brooks

[This letter was written from Alexandria, LA, after the Battles of Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, and Cane River Crossing. The figures William gives for casualties and prisoners are not supported by the Official Records or other sources. Soldiers wrote what they heard "on the grapevine," which was seldom

accurate. His info about burning homes and farms is supported by other sources, but his letter is the only one I have seen implying that anyone from his regiment took part in it. This is the last letter from William in the collection.]