Memphis, Tenn. Sept. 19, 1863

 

Day My Dear Sister:

                        Day before yesterday I received your letter of date of the 9^th and also mother's of the 10^th. I will write you a few lines to-day, and defer answering mothers until next week.

 

            We are quietly pursuing the routine of our escort and depot guard, there being scarcely anything to "molest us or make us afraid". The other day however, a few guerrillas took occasion to remind us that their tribe was not wholly extinct in this vicinity. They placed obstructions upon the track only about 5 miles from the city, but the engineer discovered them in time to stop the train; which being done, three or four men sprang from behind a log, jumped upon their horses and skedaddled double quick to their band which / was waiting in the woods, when they all concluded it was time to leave. The train, after the obstructions were removed, proceeded on the even tenor of its way. The cars run so slow and carefully, that it will be hard work to throw us off the track.

 

            All the cavalry along the road is being moved to this place, and it would seem that an expedition of some kind is on foot. At some of the stations, the guard duty is entirely performed by negro troops.

 

            I attended a prayer meeting night before last at Union Chapel, which is a church where services are held every Sabbath by some chaplain. It is a Prebyterian Church, and its pastor was compelled to leave Memphis during secession times on account of his loyalty. Some of the citizen members are good Union men, and the church is kept open, and made em- / phatically a soldier's church. By far the larger part of the congregation belong to that class. The meeting that I spoke of having attended was an exceedingly good one. I was much reminded by the surroundings of the prayer meeting in our own church at home. I wish that you could attend one of these soldier prayer meetings. It would do you good to hear these sun-browned, hardy looking veterans tell of the manner in which they have struggled to live a Christian life in the army, and speak of the all sufficiency of God's grace in helping them to resist evil. Especially does it benefit and cheer the Christian soldier to hear others tell of their struggles to live aright. Surrounded as we are by vice and immorality, we sometimes get almost discouraged, and think that there is nothing in the army but evil, but when we are thus permitted to hear from others that they / too are trying to do their duty, it greatly serves to encourage us.

 

            I never saw a man more waked up than was the leader of the meeting. He had taken charge of the meeting in the absence of the chaplain, although as he said unaccustomed to anything of the kind. He said: "I have not been a regular attendant here hitherto. But hereafter rain or shine dark or light, I mean to be present. This is the best prayer meeting that I have attended for over two years. I mean next Thursday night not only to come myself, but to fetch my wife and everyone else I can." It did me real good to witness his earnestness as he talked in this strain.

 

            One year ago today, I for the first time heard the whistle of bullets at Iuka. Every feature of that scene is in my mind as though it were but yesterday. Never can I forget the incessant deafening roar of the musketry; nor the night of anxiety that succeeded. In the morning we all fully expected that the conflict would be renewed, and this fact coupled also with the excessive coolness of the night which we were compelled to endure without blankets, effectually put a flight to much slumber. The pitiable groans of distress that came up to us from some wounded men who still lay on the battlefield did not increase our disposition to slumber.

 

            But I must stop.

                       

Write soon to

Your Brother

 

My love to all.

           

I was much interested in Hiram's letter.

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