2^nd Tennessee Regt

Polks Brig.

Cleburne's Div: Army of Tennessee

June 7^th 1864              

 

My Dear Mother.        I have received two letters from home, one of March 29^th from Cousin Tennie, the other April the 20^th from you, both of which, afforded me great comfort & consolation to know that you Dear Mother & other friends were well & doing well. In return it gives me great pleasure to state that although we have been on the move for the last thirty days part of the time say for thirteen days, under heavy skirmish fire with the enemy, yet by the favor of the Almighty none of our Regt (except one man killed) & two or three slightly wounded, have been hurt. we have been fortunate so far, though there has been no general engagement as yet. my health never was better, my frame as it were like whalebone, stand the greatest exposure & fatigue that flesh is capable of. Your nephews are all well, except West, who is a little unwell. Tell Sophie I saw Lieut Betty this morning. He is in fine health & stands it like a Trojan. we go to see one another after every skirmish, to learn of each other's safety. He says that Miss Sophie when she writes to him again by flag of truce must say something about their little house in M^cMinnville

 

Dear Mother, I recd a letter from John Neill yesterday who is in Johnson's Brig, now in the Virginia Army, which painfully announced the death of his brother Archer Neill a noble young man & a noble soldier. He fell in the fight of the 16^th of May at Drury's Bluff He was at the head of his column when it dashed into the enemy's breastworks, he was shot through the bowels & lived until the next day. John Neill & Matt Moseley escaped unhurt. Pink Edmondson, Locke Weakley & Miles ferguson are well. Mrs Wadkins two sons, George and Billy Wilkinson I saw them both yesterday are well & have not been hurt as yet In fact all the boys of the neighborhood as far as I have seen & heard from are well & have not been hurt as yet Horace Sublett & Mr Smith's sons I saw the other day & also Mr Philips sons Jo & Will, & also Mr Mathews son & Mr Beard's son Charly are all well.                                     

 

Your affectionate Son

R M Rucker

 

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Tell Cousin Tennie I have not seem Ben since the middle of April, he was then in fine health he is now in North Alabama I expect.

My love & respects to all my dear friends and relatives

 

Remember me to my old nurse Harriet and the rest of the members of the family.

 

Do not neglect me in your prayers

           

Ever your true affectionate Son

R M Rucker.

 

P.S. This is the second letter by flag of truce I have written

 

I wrote about a month ago

 

I hope you will get them both.

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