Headquarters 162nd NY Vols
Baton Rouge, LA March 22nd, 1863

Dear Father,
Yesterday we received mail from New York we also recd. one last week while in the field, in both were papers from home but no letters. Since writing you the whole army here consisting of three Grand Divisions made a feint upon Port Hudson. We left here a week ago last Friday, moved North some six miles and bivouaced for the night. At four A.M. on Saturday I was aroused by an aide of Gen Emorys and ordered with the Regt. and some cavalry to the Clinton Road and at a certain crop road detach three companies to the Comite River and burn the bridge over said river. Lt. Col Blanchard running up in the mean time I was detached with the 3 companies. We arrived at the bridge at 6 1/2 A.M. found it partly destroyed by the enemy. I completely destroyed it by fire and reported the same to ????? to Gen Banks and Gen Emory as I was ordered. Just as I was putting the finishing touches on the destruction some 40 or so of the enemys cavalry appeared on the other side but would not approach near enough to open fire upon them. After sending my report to Gen Banks I was ordered by him to move back to the cross roads and hold that position - if attacked send for reinforcements, but resist at all hazards. During Saturday night our gun boats shelled Port Hudson and most of them ran by. The Mississippi blew up, losing some 60 of her crew. On Sunday the rest of the Regt. rejoined me at the cross roads where we remained until Monday afternoon when we were ordered to fall back to Cyprus Bayou six miles from Baton Rouge, which we did arriving there at 11 P.M. Monday.

Tuesday morning we were ordered forward some seven miles again on the Clinton Road. I was ?????? Field Officer and had to post the pickets and artillary. At 11 P.M. we received an order to retreat back to Goodings Brigade two miles in the rear which we did. On Wednesday we again fell back to Cyprus Bayou and on Friday afternoon returned to our old camping ground here.

On Wednesday the Quarter Master took posession of over $17,000 worth of cotton and brought it into Baton Rouge. What the object of the expedition was I cannot tell some day we will know. I recd. a letter from John last week in which he says he will keep the money. Of course by this time you have recd. some of it. I told John to keep the $200 if he needed it for the use of the family. If you decide to move of course it will become very welcome.

Your Afc Son,
James H. B.