The following two letters were written by 2nd Lt. William M. Sentell (1834-1863) of Co. B, 28th Louisiana (Gray’s). This regiment was organized during the early spring of 1862 at Camp Monroe. The Marks Guards from Bossier Parish were mustered in as Co. B on the 14th May and other companies were added upon their arrival. When 10 companies were assembled, they were organized into the 28th Louisiana Infantry, with Henry Gray as colonel, William Walker as lieutenant colonel and Thomas Pool as major. The regiment numbered 902 men.

Following the unit’s organization in Monroe, it was ordered to a training camp approximately five miles north of Vienna where it would spend the next two months. They subsequently assigned to General Shoup’s Brigade in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. They were active at Chickasaw Bayou and also participated in the fighting that occurred around Camp Bisland on the Teche and the battle around Brasher City. William is believed to have been killed in the fighting in May 1863 and was probably buried on the field of battle in an unknown grave. [Lt. Wm. Sentell is mentioned frequently in No Pardons to Ask, nor Apologies to Make: The Journal of William Henry King, Gray’s 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, edited by Gary D. Joiner, Marilyn S. Joiner, and Clifton D. Cardin, in 2006.

William was the son of War of 1812 Veteran John Sentell (1793-1858) and Sarah Gardner (1800-1882) of Marshall county, Mississippi. He wrote the letter to an older brother named George Washington Sentell (1823-1895) who lived in Collinsburg, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, where he and another brother, Nathaniel Wesley Sentell, were partners in a mercantile store. In the 1860s, George resided in New Orleans though he owned cotton plantations in Arkansas and Louisiana. In 1861, William was serving as the postmaster in Collinsburg, Bossier Parish, Louisiana.

Another brother, James M. Sentell (1839-1862), also served in the Confederate army as a member of Co. D, 9th Louisiana Infantry. He was killed at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862, having previously passed through the fighting on the Peninsula and the 2nd Battle of Manassas.

Letter 1

Camp Monroe
May 22, 1862

Brother Washington,

I wrote to you some days since per Mr. Franks for some things I wished you to send. I hope you have received the letter ere this and send articles as per instruction. I wish now to make another request of you and wish this more particularly attended than anything else. That is to get my best cloth coat from my ward robe [and] have it thoroughly cleaned. I wish this coat for a uniform coat. I will have the stripes and buttons put on here. I expect I will have to cut the buttons from my grey coat I have here. I must have this soon. I am here without a sword and need one very badly. Most everyone else have them. I cannot get one here. I think and feel satisfied you can get one there. Write down to Shreveport immediately for one to some friend that will take an interest in getting one. Try and see if you cannot get Frank Haglus [?] if he brought it back with him so many officers are coming back it would appear to be an easy matter to get one. Please take this matter in hand and try to get one as soon as you can. I find it impossible to get one here.

I expect a good sword will cost me some 40 or 50 dollars. I have not received a line from you as yet. Am now expecting a letter every day. We are now in the regiment. Have everything very well arranged. I have been a little unwell a day or two from cold but have been on my feet all the while. I would like very much to receive the articles I ordered per Mr. Frank. My cloth coat and sword—do not forget them whatever you do.

I cannot tell you when we will leave this place. A number of reports are in circulation. I give them no credit. Some of our boys have been sick but all on the mend. Most diarrhea. J. H. Parker is quite sick but do not think him dangerous. I hope he will be up in a few days. The regiment have just commenced getting under [ ] properly. We are drilling every day by company. I have no news to write you. Any one inquiring after their friends you can say to them they are well. My love to sister Mildred and children. I saw the Lieut. Governor yesterday. He said he had the power from Governor Moore to establish a Camp of Instruction here and thought he would have all conscripts here in 30 days. Your brother, — W. M. Sentell

Think of my coat & sword.

---

Letter 2

Camp Monroe, La.
June 2, 1862

Br. Washington,

The Adjutant says we will move tomorrow or next day 6 miles north of Vienna. You need not write anymore now per mail until I write you again. Col. Gray has gone to Richmond to receive orders and get money for the regiment. He will be gone some 3 or 4 weeks I reckon. We will remain [ ] until Col. Gray returns. As for knowing our destination, I know nothing about. Some few sick in our company. Some their minds are affecting them more than the sickness. A young man by the name of Mager is dangerously ill from pneumonia. Mr. Harper of our company died of quinsy last week. His body was carried home. Mr. Mager is at a private house well attended. I think he (Dick) will be well in a few days. Mr. Harper was sent for this morning by a lady 6 miles below Monroe. A man detailed to wait on him. He will be well attended. James Byrd and Strong and Davis got sick furloughs. Getting use to camp is the hard [ ].

I wish you to keep all of our Bank bills. Hold them as same as Gold, for the present Confederate money is going down fast. Bank Bills (La.) is almost as [ ] as gold. I wish you to hold all the La. Bank Bills for the present or unless times change materially. I have nothing more to write for the present. Your brother, — W. M. Sentell