The company has lost it's first man.  Private Robert L. Smith 
died today. He didn't die fighting yanks, but gasping for breath 
as the swamp fever wrung the last life from him. There's no glory 
in such a death.  Grandpaw Tatum, a veteran of the 1812 war as a 
boy, said a lot of men die in war from sickness.  From what I've 
seen here, I'd guess he's right.  Even with being careful with 
the food and water and stayin out of the night air as much as 
possible, about half the camp is sick one way or another.

Bob was one of the first men I came to know when I came to Texas.  
A small, tow-headed man with freckles, he always seemed happy.  
Even in the miserable work to build this fort, Bob was smilin.  
He joked with those of us that visited him in the infirmary right 
until the day he died.  I'll miss Bob. He was a good friend.  I 
rekon he won't be the last friend I'll see go to meet the 
Architect of the Universe.  I guess before this job is done there 
may be a few more.

The Captain couldn't give me leave to go home.  The Company has 
been ordered up river.  We're goin to meet up with the rest of 
the 4th Texas Infantry at a place called Naccotish in Lousianna.  
Least ways that's what the name sounds like.  One of the boys in 
the Company by the name of John Ibarra has family from a place 
called Naccogdoches, Texas.  He claims that Naccodoches and 
Naccotish are two towns named by the indians of that region.  
There's suppose to be a legend about two brothers founding the 
towns or something. The Captain says they are both old settlements.  
No one has told us where we are goin after we join up with the 4th, 
but it's got to be better than stayin around this river.  

Sure wish I could slip home and see my family.  I sorta hoped the 
Captain would let me go with a couple of men as Bob's honor guard 
to take him home. Bob has been buried at the fort, however.  The 
weather bein hot as it is, the Captain figured it'd be better 
that way.  Bob's family has been notified, and the Captain said 
he'd help them make arrangements to come get Bob if they wanted.
The only way fer me to see Elizabeth now is to go AWOL.  I ain't 
gonna do that.  You leave without permission when your unit's 
moving to get ready to march, and you could get shot fer desertin.  
I couldn't do my family or the Company any good then.  In any 
event,  it looks like we might get in some of the action before 
it's over after all.  I hope so, it ain't right fer those boys in 
the east to have all the fun.