Translated from German. The original letter is currently held in the Sophienburg Archives (New Braunfels, TX)

Camp Valverde on Bayou Teche, March 27, 1863

Dear Brother:

I wish that these few lines will reach you in as good health as they leave me. I cannot write you much news, only that the Yankees kept constantly harrassing us, several times they came from this side of the Liehe where they came to get sugar. And as it is nine miles to down there we usually arrived too late. Yesterday morning we again saw the smoke of the gun boat we were ordered down to the (Buhne) dam, thinking that they would come up but they did not. On the contrary, they took the Liehe up and came up the bayou to a left flow out nine miles above the Liehe and came up Bayou Teche at Liedersonwiell (Lewisville?) to cut us off. We had gone up as far as Liedersonwiell when the gun boat fired five shots over us. We began quickly retreating, so quick that they quit shooting and tried to run down to Liehe. However, we kept shooting constantly on them at a little bit below their position for three hours and they finally surrendered by coming out with white bed sheets and flew the white flag. The Yankees had nine dead among whom was the captain of the boat. _____? and 90 wounded. We took 92 prisoners, captured quite a number of rifles, _____? ______? and many _____?. We captured five cannons, one a long 30-pounder, two 32-pounders, one 12 _____?, one 12 _____? (Geschutz) piece of ordinance. We are having the gun boat (aus gebessert) repaired and if we capture two more we will have a fleet (flotte) the equal of the Yankees'. We had four cannons in the battle. I had charge of one, one was in charge of A. Mormon, whom you know, I was under Lieutenant Schmidt. We lost no one out of our company, and as I hear, we had one man only wounded in the arm.

I will close in hopes that you still are healthy and cheerful. I remain your brother G. Dan Pfeuffer.

Write soon again. The name of the gun boat is U.S. Diana.

Have you heard anything about George's horses? Are they still there?

Write me soon again.

George Dan Pfeuffer

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