At the end of this letter he refers to the "officer and two men" who were captured. See Daniel's letter of September 27th.

Gunboat Choctaw,
Mouth of Red River
October 11, 1863

Dear Parents,

You will see by the dating of this letter that I am still on board the Choctaw and for what I know I’ll have to stay for some time yet.

The first thing I have to tell you is that I want some postage stamps and envelopes. I thought I would be able to get along without sending for any and if I wanted any I could get them from the other boys, but I find that impossible. If I was on the Cincinnati it would be different. I am as much in the dark as ever about our accounts. Our Purser can give us no information whatever about them. The other day some of us went to the Ex Officer to ask permission to see the Capt. But the Capt. refused to see us stating that he could not see us as we could not be discharged without our A/C or an order from the department.

I cannot see why we cannot be discharged as well as John Fox and many others who have been discharged. Their accounts were lost as well as ours. It is a shame and disgrace that we should be humbugged in this manner. Here we are four months and a half have elapsed since we came aboard the Choctaw. Plenty of time has been given for our A/C to arrive yet they have not come. It is a pity that such miserable hirelings (men who are so little acquainted with their business) should fill a great majority of the offices in the Navy. I wonder if you should write to Capt. Carter whether he could do anything for me. I have written a note to Capt. Bache of the Lexington (formerly Cincinnati) and all the boys signed it. But I hope that our A/C will soon be here and that we will be discharged then. Uncle Sam can whistle for my services.

About twenty men from the Osage took the overland route for Red River and captured and burned two transports and took twenty prisoners, one of which was an Aid de Camp [sic]. The Guerrillas don’t trouble us now at all. The Secesh officer is to be exchanged for our officer and two men.

Give my love to all at home.

Your affectionate son,

Daniel