Aug the 6^th 1862

Camp Churchhill near Loudon Tenn

 

Dear Father

                        I will write you a few lines this morning to let you know my whereabouts We received orders yesterday to cook 3 days rations and be ready to start at a moments warning. We will start away from here this evening I have wrote several letters to you since we have been in Tenn. It has been months since I have heard from you. It is reported here that Kentucky, Indianna Ilenois Ohio have refused to furnish any more men for the Linchon Government and that Seward has resigned also that some of the Politicians of the North are making stump speaches against the War If all this be true I am in hopes we will soon be allowed to return home in peace

 

I will give you an account of a little difaculty I got into the other. Last sunday evening while I was knocking around camp I noticed the Lieutenant of the Provo guard in our camp On noticeing him a while I saw that he had been watching me all the while so I came to the conclusion that he suspicioned me of some rascality so I gave him the opportunity to speak to me. He asked me if I had been out of camp that day, I told him I had not But that did not satisfy him, so he went to Capt Porter of Co E and asked my name he told him that he did not know my name but he did not suppose that I had done any thing that would make me ashamed to tell it. When I saw that he was talking / about me I went to him and told him that I ken theat he suspicioned me of something and that I wanted him to take my name and Co, and give me a trial He did not give me any satisfaction but went off. The next morning he brought two of the guard with him and had me arrested

 

 

Lowden Tennessee August 6^th 1862

Mr Adum Yoakum

                                    Sir as I have a few spair moments I will drop you a few lines to let you no that I am yet in the land of the living I am well at preasent I truly hope when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all injoying the same good blessing I have no nuse of much importence to rite helth is very good in camp at this time Isaac is well and harty I havent time to rite but a few lines we have orders to start on our march to Noxville Tennessee this eveing at too OClock and evry man is buisy prepareing his ratons for the march it is expected that we will have a battel up there I heard that they ware a fighting up there yesterday it is only about fifty miles up there I say Haraugh for the South I dont think that it will be long before Shee will be free I must bring my letter to a close Tell Louis Wards wife that he is well rite to my folks and tell them that I am well So no more at preasent from your friend

                                                            S. W. Saunders CSA /

 

and started with me to headquarters Lieutenant Burks went to him and asked him what he had me arrested for He said said he had caught me in a melon patch the day before and tried to take me and that I drew my pistol on him and then ran off Lieut. Burks told him that it was not so for I was with him that day. So he came to the conclusion that he had better let it a lone & turned me loose. I have no doubt if I had been out of camp that day it would have went gone pretty tight with me for the fellow was ceartain it was me. I could have proved by a hundred men where I was at the time he said I was in the melon patch. That was the first difaculty of the kind I ever have been in during my life. You can not imagine the feelings I had when I found that I had been accused of steeling I tell you it was hard to swallow for I have allways said if a man ever accused me of steeling that I would kill him / my hands are tied I can do nothing but it may happen some time before we die that I can pop the screw to him

 

It appears that there is a way for the just to escape punishment if even they are accused

 

The above is a good lesson for my brothers and sister I hope they will remember it

                                                                                   

Your affectionate

Son

I. M. Yoakum

 

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