OurStory

From URL: http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/biographies/w/westmoreland_william_thomas.htm

"....On the 25 (June 1863) , we traveled 20 miles, passed into the state of Louisiana and camped in Moorehouse Parrish. On the 26, we traveled 20 miles and camped on Beauf River. On the 27, we traveled 20 miles and camped on Bayou Mason. On 28, after tearing down some log houses, we built a log bridge across the Bayou on which we crossed about dark. After which we traveled all night and crossed Tensas River. On the 29 we had a fight with negro troops under command of white officers in Mississippi River bottom, a few miles below Providence.

After burning negro quarters for a distance of 10 or 15 miles along the river, the gun boats in the river began to shell us. When we retreated across Tensas River and camped two miles we camped in Madison Parish. On July 1, we traveled 10 miles and camped on Bayou Mason. We remained in the country between Floyd and Delhi until July 24. On that day we traveled 30 miles and camped on Lake LaFouche, La. On the 25, we traveled 20 miles and camped on Bayou Gallion. On 26, traveled 15 miles and crossed Lake LaFouche and camped on Blouff River, 1 mile from Girard Station. On the 27 and 28 each we traveled 25 miles, on 29th we traveled 20 miles when we arrived at Harrisonburg.

On the 30th a squad of which I was a member was sent on picket to Trinity, a distance of 11 miles from Harrisonburg. After remaining in that neighborhood for 10 days, and on the 11 of August 1863, this squad crossed the Washita River, traveled 12 miles and camped in the Tensas. On the 12th we traveled 20 miles up the river and camped at Kirk's Ferry. Here I was taken sick with fever and on the 16th was removed from picket camp to the home of Col. Wall, one mile from the ferry. I remained here 8 days before I was able to ride. On the 26th of August, 1863 I rejoined the command at harrisonburg, having traveled 20 miles. While at that place S. R. Westmoreland and W. A. Wiles were taken sick and were moved to a hospital 4 miles distance. On the 3rd of Sept. John F. and myself went out to the hospital to take car of them. On the night of the 3rd my fever returned. The hard camp life and over exertion being too much for me. The same night the company was ordered to Alexanderia, but as we were all sick, John F., we were left in the hospital. The Federals came on the 4th and occupied Harrisonburg, and in the afternoon of the same day rode out to the hospital and captured us. Their surgeon examined us and gave us medicine. After which the commanding officer wrote a parole for each of us, and left us there. This was Colonel A. G. Molloy of the 17th Wisconsin Mounted Infantry.

We remained in the hospital until Sept. 9 when a lady - Mrs. Tatum - sent a wagon and had us moved to her home 5 miles from Harrisonburg. She took care of us until Sept 27, Feeling able to travel, we started home. We traveled 20 miles and stopped 4 miles east of Scatterville, La. On the 28th we traveled 25 miles and stopped with Mr. Meekins, 17 miles west of Little River, La.

The next morning S. R. Westmoreland was sick again. We all remained there until noon, when after a conference we decided that the Wiles boys had better go on, as one of them might be sick by the time S. R. W. was able to travel, and cause further delay. So S. R. W. and I were left behind. We stayed here for 4 days, leaving about noon on October 3rd. We traveled 17 miles. After a long and hard trip in our weakened condition, we arrived at our father's home in Hill County, Texas on October 10, 1863. The Wiles boys reached home 1 day earlier...."