Owen W. Nims to Amasa Nims and Adeline Nims, undated
Fort Donelson Tennesee Cumberland River
 
My Dear parents I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to both of you I suppose you have ere this time heard of the wee had in Tennesee I will now tell you soemthing about the fight wee left Fort Henry Wednesday Morning the 12 and started for the fort it being about 12 miles we arived within a mile of the fort and then picket Guard was put sent out I being one of them it was a bright Moonlight wee could almost evry where a round ous there was three at one place and two would sleep while the other was Guard. the next morning wee came still nigher wee came within a bout three hundred yards of the Entrenchments and then the sharp shooters commenced wee took our stataon under the brow of the hill and expected an attact thursday night it rained untill tenn oclock and then it comensed snowing and I had to lay on the cold wet ground with out any blanket that was the worst night that I ever saw Mother that mad me think of home you dont know how I sufferd a bout 4 oclock in the morning wee was orderd back a peice in the wood and another Reg took our place and wee mad soem fire and got warmed up a little and then wee were orderd back to relieve the others and let them warm them selves skirimshing went on untill Saurday afternoon and the fight become / general the fighting lasted one hour and a half and I heard the bullets came about as close as I cared a bout haveing them Mother there was one poor man that I felt sorry for there was two men got wounded by a grape shot one had his leg shot off or just so it hung on and the other fell right on to me you dont know how thankfull I was that I did not get killed it was God that keep me through the battle pa you and Mother must still pray for your son pa I think that when I get hom I will be a better Boy than I ever have benn yet I wish that you would to me you must direct letters by way of Cario letters will come to me any time or any where wee had two or three wounded in our company pa I am agoing to save what money I get and bring it home tell Con that I will bring him home soemthing you dont know how I miss the meetings Mother I dont think that you will ever again hear me find falt with your cooking any more the war will soon be over and then I will be Home and Help you work tell Wesley to write to me wee had to eat raw fat pork for thre days and crackers
                                               
From Your Affection Son Weed
11216
DATABASE CONTENT
(11216)DL1733.010181Letters18XX

Tags: Fighting, Food, Garrison Duty, Money, News, Religion, Weather

People - Records: 3

  • (3988) [writer] ~ Nims, Owen Weed
  • (3992) [recipient] ~ Nims, Amasa
  • (3995) [recipient] ~ Nims, Adeline ~ Goodenow, Adeline

Places - Records: 1

  • (376) [origination] ~ Fort Donelson, Stewart County, Tennessee

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SOURCES

Owen W. Nims to Amasa Nims and Adeline Nims, undated, DL1733.010, Nau Collection