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Letter from William F. Weeks to John Moore, May 20, 1863
Weeks writes to his step-father from New Iberia about the impact of Yankee forces on the area, noting the number of slaves who have run away and locals who have sworn the oath of allegiance.
William F. Weeks
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 18, Frame 80-81
Image scanned from 35mm microfilm published by UPA. Published here by W. Caleb McDaniel.
May 20, 1863
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English
Text
E3F53AA5-AA54-4AB2-A555-3702087459AB
New Iberia, May 20 / 63
My dear sir,
I wrote to you two days ago by Mr. [Bisby?] who will tell you all the news of us. Col. Morris proposes to go tomorrow. I hope you will see him as he can tell you much that is interesting.
We are getting on comparatively well now. The federals have all gone, and we are occupying a curious position, being neither Confederates nor federals, that is in point of law. We are not willing to [be] ruled by the Yankees rule, & dare not take our original position because we are likely at any time to have a yankee force sent among us.
For some reason they have evacuated this country from Opelousas to B. Bay.
We are hoping to hear daily that Kirby Smith has defeated Banks. We have reliable news of the victory of Lee over Hooker. The N. York Herald admits it.
A vast number of negroes have gone off with the Yankees. The able bodied men were put in the army, while the women were sent to the vacant plantations on Lafourche.
Many of our prisoners have taken the oath in N. O. 510 names have been published in the Era, most of them known here. Those who have taken the oath have been kept in N. O. & are to be put in the federal army. Served them right. R. Humble, & Wm. Southwill are among the number. Ma is in low spirits, but well in other respects.
Yours truly,
W. F. W.
Manuscript