Post Hospital

Pulaski Tenn.

Feb. 5^th 1865

 

Col. Smith,

           

My dear Friend

                        Your kind letter by my boy John came safely & I am much pleased with the plan you have marked out for our Corps. I understand the 3^d Division is already in Nashville.

           

The question nearest my heart is that of my wife's coming "down in Tennessee"—I am certain nothing would please me better. So soon as we can learn for a certainty where we will remain for any given length of time, then I shall be ready to send for my wife. I verily believe that I can support my family cheaper in this place or any where in Tennessee than I can in Illinois, provided I have to be away from them. That is, I mean to say that if I can have my family with me in Tennessee, I can live cheaper than to have them in Illinois & I in this State. It costs a man in the army alone almost enough to support a family while the family in Illinois will cost as much more. Tis equal to keeping 2 houses. / We will soon see. I am very much taken with this country any way, & would willingly exchange locations. if I could dispose of my property there, I would buy here & consider this state my home in the future.

           

Tis a gone up fact, a grave conclusion, a veritable truth—besides being my positive intention to remove from Illinois to Tennessee. I mean to do it for the sake of my health I think I can prolong this life of mine & the life of my wife, by getting away from that awful cold country, & all I ask now, is that some one will take my land north, & give me land south for it, & you will see a boy about my size, a citizen of Tennessee.

           

This much as a preliminary. My wife is ready to make her visit here any day when there shall be a good prospect of my staying long enough in one place to justify her coming.

           

I wish we could make such an arrangement as you speak of. Mrs. Smith can enjoy herself well in Nashville, & your prospect for staying in Nashville for several months is good. You do not want to go back to the Regt. until your shoulder is entirely well, unless it be an absolute necessity, which certainly will not be till next spring, & as you speak of it may be that there will be no more fighting for / our Division during the balance of their time. I do hope they will have the privilege of doing garrison duty for the next season. Some troops must do it, & why not ours.

           

I expect our sick in the hospitals in this place will be sent to Nashville in a few days. The cars come within a few miles of us & as soon as they reach us our sick will be removed. Lt. Hill will go with them I expect if I should go there I shall see you, but I expect to remain for a time longer here to take care of the sick who will not be able to be removed on the train. There will be enough of such men left, to make me a small pleasant hospital. I shall not complain if I stay here for the month. I wish you could get a pass & a few days leave of absence & visit us. It will do you good to get out of the dust of the city & rusticate in the country for a few days. Capt. Pollock is here, much improved in health & will return to Regt. the first opportunity.

           

A letter from home says all is well & that the Confederacy is no more. they think that peace is not far away. I hope so but still I dare not make up my mind that all the fighting is over. I think it the best policy to provide for the worst, & act as though a summers campaign is before us. Let the soldiers come, let / more troops be brought into the field, so that now, when the Confederacy is tottering & the people are fearing the worst, let their worst fears be realized & let an overwhelming force be placed into the grand work & let no part of the rebellious land rest until it is thoroughly & completely subjugated, & the last vestige of hope of independence is ground out of their hearts. Give them no rest, no peace, no armistice, no cessation of hostilities, no time to recover from the shock of Shermans march, but let our conquering armies sweep on till they cry out for mercy & will lay down their arms & accept of our clemency. Such is my plan for the campaign.

           

Capt Pollock sends his compliments. Give my regards to Col. Champion, Lts Hastings Havens [?] Strong & Singleton & enquiring friends, & believe me as ever

                                                                                   

Yours Fraternally

B G Pierce

 

write me here as before

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