Prospect Station, Tenn. Nov. 24, 1863.

 

Dear Mother:

                        Although there is no opportunity to send mail, yet as I have leisure this morning, I will write a few lines in reply to your letter of Nov. 6^th, and have them ready to send at the first opportunity. I am glad to learn that the money arrived safely. I have retained enough for my own present use, as I do not need as much money here as I did while in Memphis.

 

            I wish one of my pictures that you spoke of to be given to Newton Maxwell. William Pfeiffer can take it to him. He is in the Senior Class. The others you may keep for the present.

 

            I have received but one letter from Hiram,—the one that you forwarded me. I have written two since receiving it. 

 

I will now proceed with my diary of the march. On the

 

            Sixth Day we traveled about 11 miles. We passed from the thinly settled country of the day previous, into a fine, fertile portion, consisting of alternate hill and valley. The houses also evinced in their structure a greater degree of luxury and refinement, many of them being, large comfortable, well built country residences. The hillsides and valleys bore evidence of cultivation, and we passed many a large, fine corn field. Frequently as we were passing over some hill, a large sweep of fine, well situated land would be presented to our vision. After traveling six miles we reached Pulaski, on the Nashville and Decatur R.R. It is a town of some 3000 or 4000 inhabitants, containing a very fine court house, / some good church buildings, and quite a number of elegant private residences. I like the appearance of the place very much. It is not quite so pretty a place as Holly Springs was, but it is much better situated, being surrounded by a fertile country; whilst the country immediately around Holly Springs is exceedingly poor. The people of the place crowded the houses and street corners to look upon us as we passed. Most of them were women and children, although there was quite a sprinkling of men. I have no doubt but that most of the inhabitants gazed upon with no very friendly feelings. At one place however, I noticed a couple of ladies, who bore evidence by their pleased countenance and the waving of their handkerchiefs that they were rejoiced to see us. I noticed one sign that many of / them regarded the Southern Confederacy as hopeless. It was this: They permitted their servants to bake biscuits, pies, etc. and sell to us for our money, as we passed. In fact, there are comparatively few who will take Confederate money. Passing through the place without stopping, we marched eastward toward Fayettville, about 5 miles. Here we met some Cavalry, who reported to us that Sherman was 28 miles ahead of us. Soon after meeting the cavalry we camped. Forage of every kind was plenty. At night our company was on picket. Just after dark I saw a light moving through the woods, down a hill towards a ravine. I supposed that it was probably some one who had hidden away something there and had gone to look after it. I watched it closely, and soon I saw another one near it. They appeared to be moving towards me. I listened intently for the sound of footsteps, but I could hear nothing. Soon another and yet another appeared and they did not now appear to be over 200 yards from me. I could see them move to and fro very plainly. Sometimes they would disappear entirely and spring up in a new place. At length I became convinced that it could be nothing else than Jack o'lanterns. I had never seen any before, and under the circumstances it was quite a sight. They flitted to and fro more or less all night. Sometimes they would burn very brightly, and several would be visible at once. It was a new sight to more than one of us. What surprised me was to see them on a hill / side, as I had never heard of them except in swamps. On the

 

            Seventh Day a change of plan became evident. We took a bye road, and struck south westward, along the bed of a creek. After traveling about 6 miles we struck the railroad again at a point 6 miles south of Pulaski. We had supposed before that we were going to Decherd, on the Nashville and Chattanooga R.R., but we now left the road taken by Sherman. Dodge with the remainder of his force was at Pulaski, being only a few miles in our rear. It seems that the intention now is to open up this road. At Richland, 6 miles from Pulaski, we crossed Richland Creek, a stream about the size of Duck Creek. We crossed one at a time on a bridge consisting of a few rails and a terribly rough, slippery log. Three or four fell in and got a complete ducking. I came / very near doing so but escaped. Passing beyond the creek two miles we encamped on the plantation of one Tom Brown, a son-in-law of Gen. Pillow, and a rabid fire eater. He is now in the army. There was plenty to eat on the place, and we "went for it". I will venture to say that we our regiment alone killed not less than 40 hogs that night. We learn to eat meat voraciously here. One man will eat what would be thought sufficient for half a dozen at home. A chicken is one meal for two men. A hog weighing 100 pounds will be used up in one day by our squad of 18 men. One reason however, is this, is that we lack the other articles that usually go to make up a meal at home. I will venture to say that we left in camp that morning enough meat to keep a family a year, in our company alone.

 

            The 8^th Day nothing especially noteworthy took place. We marched to our present camping ground 4 miles

 

            Thus endeth my account of the march.

 

            I will send this letter the first opportunity. Direct your next to Prospect Station, Tenn. Gen. Dodge's Division, Fuller's Brigade.

                       

Your Son,

SOURCES