Someonen recently sent me a copy of a letter written by David A. Campbell, of the Ouachita Southrons, later Company E, 17th Regiment Louisiana Infantry. Campbell wrote the letter on 24 October 1861 from Camp Moore, and I find the letterhead on the first page fascinating. The letter was address to Campbell's brother, John Thomas Campbell, then only about eighteen years old. David A. Campbell died just over a month after he wrote this letter, on December 1st, presumably at Chalmette. Ironically, the person to whom the letter was addressed, John T. Campbell, enlisted the following spring in Company I, 31st Regiment Louisiana Infantry. He died at Vicksburg in March 1863.

Here are links to the letter:

Page One:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/military/WBTS/camp-moore-1.jpg

Page Two-Three:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/military/WBTS/camp-moore-2.jpg

Transcription of letter:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/state/military/wbts/camp-moore.txt

The original letter is privately owned.

Tim Hudson
http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/military/wbts.htm