Camp near Memphis Nov 30^th 1862

 

            Well we are still here and no prospect of going soon we have a verry pleasent camping ground we have found good water and plenty of it for all camp purposes I suppose it would not be verry cold in the summer but it is verry good now

 

Memphis is a verry nice place I think it is the best looking place I have seen along the river and it is a large and closly built city mostly all brick negroes are mostly all run of into the interior whither it is for fear of having them confiscated or to set them to work in the army I do not know but one thing is certain that the slaves are all moved back from the river and in Ky they were all that could be spared were sent down South 

 

We have fresh bread since we come here I like it a good deal better than I do the crackers for my teeth is hardly fit for the task but I believe the hard bread is the healthiest for to be confined to steady we are now getting 1¼ pound of fresh bread warm from the oven and we are going to have molasses now so that with warm bread and the mollasses we will live well for a while we have not had any fresh beef since we left Louisville I do not know whether we will get any here or not we have plenty of corned beef and mess pork besides plenty of bacon and we got on a suply of black tea the first that we have had since we left Camp Randall tea is the only thing that I have realy missed in the board line and shall carry some with me after this 

 

The news is now that holly Springs is taken by the Federals with 120 prisoners beside a lot bagage and amunition but wether it is so or not I am not certain but the thing is very probable for there has been a continual move of troops in that direction for some there was some 25000 or 30000 moved out in that direction from the camps about Memphis I think the prospect of our staying here for some time is good now we have just receved orders to move about two miles down on the right of the Brigade so that fixing us up in regular order means somthing of that kind so we will have to bundle up tomorrow morning but we are getting used to that kind of work so that we dont mind it much any more /

 

Monday Morning Dec 1

We had a terible thunder storm yesterday evening just after we came in from dressparade it rained for about two hours as hard as I ever saw it rain in my life and thundered and lightened like all fury then it was showery all night so that I do not for certain whether we will move this morning or not we have our traps all packed up ready we will move some time to day at any rate it dont take much rain to make plenty of mud in this country the health of the Reg is generaly verry good with the exception of some colds that the boys got on the steam boat I have no news of any importance to write we are all well at present and I think camp life agrees with us all Frank fated up the most of any of us he has gained over 20 pounds I dont know what I have gained up to this time I had gained 7 pounds at Camp Bates and I know I have gained since then bob has not gained any of any account I think but his health is good as ever it was at home Asa has fated up the most of any one in the Co I never him so fat in my life so I think camp life has agreed with all of us the best kind

 

Taylor Beer is about the same as when he left home he has had a bad cold for some time but he is so verry saucy and medelsome that he will get along if any one can I dont think he has a friend in the Company except us that he went with and he can eat two mens rations all the time our Capt is not verry well now / and has not been for verry long some time he has had the chronic diarea and cant get it stoped I dont think he will stand marching verry well he is to fat and not used to this kind of living but Duncan gaines every day

 

            Monday Evening we are once more fixed up after our move we started this morning at 8 oclock to go 2 miles as we suposed but the way they marched us it was it was 6 or 7 they had to take us all through the city to show us to the Sesesh of the city Memphis is a nice place we found the roads verry mudy and if we had to have marched much farther we should all have given out for we started before dinner and when we got here we found little brick fire places built by the 32^ond Wisconsin Vol so we got to work and set our tent on logs about 14 inches high / and then built us a nice brick fire place in one end of the tent so that we are fixed up the best we have been since we left Nicholasvill we had to work hard for the time we got in till dark but the comfort of it will pay us even if we do not stay but a day or two I find it verry comfortable seting in front of the old fashon fire place

 

We passed some verry strong fortifications as we came here with some fine looking barkers mounted

 

I guess I have nothing more to write this time when you write again send me 3 or 4 stamps for it is almost imposible to get them even if we had the money do not send more than than 3 or 4 at once for fear of the letter getting lost for I cannot get along without writing to some one and I cant write without the postage I could have the Colonel send my letters but you would / have to pay there there is plenty of the has him sign there letters but I do not like to send my letters on tick

 

Direct to Memphis Tenn via Cairo Ill

no more at present yours truly

James Scott

 

To Miss M. J. Scott

 

enclosed you will find a sprig of holly a verry common bush in this country and I guess Mother has seen it in the old [?]

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