John T. Hayes

 

M^cMinnsville Tenn

December 21 1863

 

Dear Lizzie

This the 21^th I write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at this time and I hope this will find you and my swete Edmon well It is not worth my while to tell you my likes and dislikes but I tell you what I would like I would like to bee at home and take Christmas with you I think that we could injoy orselves our selves. I think that I could at least some times I get to thinking the time will bee so long if we should live before we will see each other but still I hope to see the time roll round after a while if not sooner well this is foolishness Enough as to any news I will not try at this time to give you any tell the truth I dont know any thing to write for thir is nothing going on hear worth mention onley that thir has bin hundreds of Rebs come in and give themselves up and some say they / are tiard of the war and that the confederacy is a bout plad out that they cant stand it much longer some of them say they dont belive they will make another stand but I dont bite at every bate that is through out or evry thing that I hear but thir is no doubt but what they are dezerting the Rebel Armey very fast and I hope old Abes Proclimation will in creas it the dezertion thir Armey is decreasing and our Armey increasing and I hope it soon will be wipe out but peace will not bee made soon at least I dont look for it before next fall or with in the next year I think with in the next year this Rebellion will bee put down Well I must tell you what I have bin doing since I came hear on guard so that you can see what I have to do

 

Picket Nov 15^th 1863 Rained the 14^th moved our camp a bout a mile 16^th Sisfon & Oxley and me went after walnuts this 17^th 18^th in camp nothing worth noteing 19^th on Picket Duty 20^th Rained 21. Co F started to Murfreesboro started back 23^th Rained all day 23^rd 24^th at camp 26^th we fixted our tent 27 worked on the fort so that we could winter in it /

 

28^th On Picket guard and raining and 29^th Snowing and cold 30 Clear and nothing worth noteing December 1^st on Guard 2^ond at camp 3^rd  4^th On Picket Guard 5^th stew day at Camp 6^th on Picket Guard 7^th at camp Nothing worth noteing 8^th Raining at camp writing to Lizzie 9^th At camp and healping cleaning off the camp 10^th On Picket Guard and writing to Lizzie 11^th at camp the wether warm and plesant 12^th at camp and raining 13^th still raining and in camp 14^th On Picket Guard cloudy but no rain 15^th at camp clear day 16^th working on the fort and rained that night 17^th On Picket Guard Cloud and cool but no rain 18^th In camp nothing worth noteing 19^th same only clear and cold Oh I went and got some walnuts 20 Oh Picket clear and cold 21 In camp clear but plesant to day this is as far as I can go this time or date I am trying to write to Lizzie but if I dont have a chance to send this out I still write and date it as I write Now from this you will see that in Tenn it rains very often but I have not got wet yet all the rain that has bin neither have I bin out in much of it yet 

 

This the 24 of December finds me in good health I claim your Christmas gift & you can pay by taking good care of my boy I have nothing of importance to write to you at this time I hear good news from Mo Schoffield being removed and Rosecrayer put in his place this will give Union men a chance I hope it is true and no rumor I have not heard from you since the 11 of this month I have received one letter from R J Triggs they was all well Lizzie I have nothing to write and so I will close for this time hopeing to hear from you soon May heavens blessing rest and abide with you all is my wish and prayer write soon you did not tell me what you was over to your Fathers so long for nor when you was a going home I did not know but what you had fell out with Father and Mother and left them this was the first thought that struck me but I hope thir is nothing of it Tell me all all if you do not I think you ought to John Hayes

 

            I ever remain yours untill Death

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