Camp 80^th Ills. Vols. Infantry

Feb. the 21^st 1864

           

Dear sister—

                —I recieved your kind and very welcom letter of the 12^th Feb to day. I was highly pleased with the contents of your letter so I hasten to answer hoping that it may be the means of getting another from you soon. Your letter found me enjoying the best of health at preasant the rest of your acuaintance are all well We are doing very well at preasant we are drawing full rations of crackers and bacon and coffee and living in great hopes of the war coming to a close soon. We have bin having some of the coldest weather for the last weak that we have had since we have bin in the Army which makes camp very disagreable however I guess we can stand it. I have wrote where we are several times but for fear you have not got the letters I will tell you again. We are camped at preasant on the Chattanooga and Knoxville R.R. about 5 miles from Cleveland Tenn. we are stationed hear in a gap to prevent the enemy from coming through and destroying the road / I do not know how long we will remain hear. There is two Brigades of our Division hear We are well fortifyed hear and probably will remain hear until spring opens then there will be a forward moovement on Dixie I heard the other day we had marching orders but I dont believe it was so

 

            Well Mollie you dont know how glad I was to hear of the people getting better it makes me think we will have pease before long for I believe the main cause of this war was that the people had got so very wicked that it was the will of the good Lord to punish them for it. And I think when it has finished them enoughf for them to comence to do better then I think we will have pease and not until then. Well Mollie I guess H. Flick and Jacob Deck has seen a good time while they was at home I know I should have seen a good time if I had have been at home

 

I want you to tell Jim that I have not got a letter from him for some time tell him to write and tell Jim Vaughan to write often and give me the poticulars at home in full & tell Father to write to me /

 

Mollie when you write again let me know wheather Jim is going to school yet or not and if he is tell me who is helping Father at home tell me wheather he has any help or not and if he is working as hard as he use to tell him to quit it and get some one to help him if it is no one but a negro tell him to work as many of them as he can for they are plenty and I am a fraid almost to plenty to do well.

 

            Well Mollie I believer I have wrote all that I can think of for the preasant at least all that will be interesting and probably more so hoping to hear from you soon I remain your brother Give my love to all the folks at home. Give my respects to all inquiring friend &c &c I remain yours very respectfully Solomon F. Wood

 

Mollie hearafter direct your letters to Sol. F. Wood Co "K" 80^th Ills. Vols. I. Bridgeport Alabama direct them there no diference how many times we moove direct there until I tell you to change the adress and they will be forwarded to me yours truly Solomon F. Wood

SOURCES