Camp in the Field, Northwest-

ern Corner of Alabama, Near

Eastport, Miss., Nov. 5, 1863,

and Raining, but in good tents

 

Dear Sister:

            Isn't that heading enough. We crossed the Tennessee yesterday on boats, and are now camped about 2 miles from Eastport waiting for the rest of our Division to cross. I presume that to-morrow or next day we will begin our march toward Chattanooga. We are anticipating high living on hogs, chickens, etc., on our march. We haven't got into the meat country yet, but we had a slight foretaste of something good to eat in some delicious pumpkin sauce which we stewed last night. I tell you there is little danger of our starving as long as there is anything eatable in the country.

 

            Eastport has been at one time a flourishing business place of 600 or 800 inhabitants, having been the supply point of a / large county back of it. The town is situated on a steep side hill about 1 mile from the river. I thought I had seen considerable of the devastation of war before but never before have I seen such utter desolation as prevails here. Quite a number of buildings have been burned, and those that remain are completely gutted. Windows are smashed in, doors and partitions torn down, floors ripped up,—in fact ruin is written on the face of everything. I saw only two houses that were inhabited. Judging from the number and size of the storehouses the place has once been the abode of prosperity, but very bitterly have those who once dwelt here and did business felt the curse of that war which their own folly and madness has entailed upon them.

 

            The Tennessee River at this point is beautiful. There is a good stage of water. The river is not very wide, although I should judge it to be wider than the Muskingum at Marietta, but it is deep and flows along with silent majesty. There are three or four gunboats here, and a small fleet of transports. Three Regiments came up the river last night, the 115^th and 117^th Ohio and the 116^th Illinois. They have never been in the field yet. I think they will see a pretty tough "breaking in", marching after "us Veterans" toward Chattanooga. If they don't straggle some it will be a wonder.

 

            I hope to send this letter before we leave here. You must not expect to hear from me again before we reach Stevenson, Ala. which will not be for several days. Direct your next to Eastport, as I presume the mail will come up the Tennessee.

                                   

Your Brother,

           

Wild turkeys are abundant here and two deer were killed by some men in the 43^d.

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