Beach Grove Coffey County Tenn June 4th (AD 1863
Remmbered Friends after so long a time I am permitted the chance to drop you a few lines and it gives me grate pleasure to do so I am injoying very good helth at preasent I have bin in good helth ever sence I have bin in Tenn I truly hope that these few lines will find you all well and doing well I hardly know what to write when I look around me and miss so meny of my old play mates and old friends that started from home with me I mean my nearest and best friends I have plenty of friends here yet but they dont seam like my old neighbors there is but one of my old mess mates here with me that started from home with me I reckon you have heard of the deth of your son Isaac he was wounded in the Batle of Murfreesboro he fell / By my side and was taken to the hospitle that was the last time I saw him I do not no how long he lived after he was wounded I am glad that I can say he was a good soldier he was liked by the hole Company I believe that he was prepare to dey I can say that he filled a soldiers grave I reckon you have herd all the pertickulers about his deth Louis ward was wounded a short time ago in abatle with the yankeys he got one of his legs broken and was taken prisoner I havent herd from him sence Our 2th Lieutenant is ded he was wounded at the Batle of Murfreesboro and died a short time after you may not no his name it is W E Murel Berry Burnet also died from a wound at Murfreesburo Jessey Robinett is also dead William Reed is at the hospital / To Texas sick I havent herd from him for some time Jack Appel and William Baren were left sick in Mississippi and I havent herd from them sence I expect they are dead Nathan Burks our first Lieutenant is at the hospital wounded he was wounded at Murfreesboro Jessey Wells is at the hospital sick Hiram Hawley hasent bin with us for about twelve moths the last time I herd from him he was marrid and had joined a Georgia Regiment he is reported as a deserter Merian Allen has bin under guard for some time for assisting Major Mesick in killing Capt Fitch Patrick he give him a pistol to shoot him with I dont no what they will do with him for it / They have got Mesick confined Lt Delk is in very bad helth at this time Tell J C Witchers folks that he is well tell Mrs Hamil that Given is well and is as fat as a pig Tell Mr Mccart that William is well he is 3th Sergeant Tell Mrs Jane Martin Martin that Frank Gwaltney and George are both well Frank is a [?] for General Harrison. W. R. Baker and all the Honey Grove boys are well I havent time to tell you about the rest of the boys they are all generaly well and in fine spirits the 11th Texas Regt has the best name of eny regiment in this Army I cannot tell you how meny fights I have we have bin very near all over Tennessee sence we have bin mounted I will give you
[different paper used]
Names of Our Commishioned officers—Nathan Burks Captain. J. D. Delk 1th Lieutenant Washington Underwood (2)th Lieutenant. B. F. Braley 3th Lieutenant know I will give you the names of the Non Commisioned officers J [?] 1th Sergeant W. C. Moore (2)th Serg't Louis Ward 3th Sergt William McCart 4th Sergeant, W. H. Henick 1th Corprel, E. W. Cummens 2th Corprel, W. B. Mccraw 3th Corprel I will give you the prices of some things corn is worth $2.50 per bushel Wheat 3.00 dollars per bushel Bacon 35 cents per pound coffee 1.00 per pound sugar 1.00 per pound salt 75 cents per pound soda 1.00 per pound calico 4.00 per yard hats 20 a pece shirts 12 dollars apece boots 50 dollars apece shoes 15 dollars horses 300 dollars a head milk cows 50 dollars a head milk 50 cents a quart butter 1.00 per pound evry thing else in proportion Wheat and corn crops looks verry promising and the peopel live all in fine spirits we have whiped the yankeys at Vicksburg again and driven the yankeys back farther than ever we are expecting to have a big fight here in a few days the too Armys is but a short distance apart the pickets are fighting evry day the peopel seam to think if we can whip them here that it will almost deside the War we ar receiveing reinforcements from Vicksburg evry day and from Virginia I see nothing to hinder us from whiping them I must bring my letter to a close for I havent time to write eny more I would be very glad to see you and all / The rest of my old friends you must all write to me evry chance and tell all of my old friend to write I send my love and best respects to all inquireing friends you must go and see my folks and tell them how I am a getting along I send my respects to all the Ladys of that neighborhood Tell Columbus and Georgia that I will write to them before long Let your neighbors read this letter if you pleas I hope you will excuse bad riting for I have to write in a hury and I have got a bad pen and bad paper
So no more at present from your friend
W. W. Saunders
To A. S. Yoakum and Martha Yoakum
Direct your letters to General
Harrisons Brigade General Whartons
Brigade 11th Texas Cavalry Co F
Devision
Tel Mr Nicholson that we have bin looking for him for about two months but we have [faded] him out Tell him to write to me