Prospect Station, Tenn. Nov. 26, 1863.

 

My Dear Sister:

                        To-day we were fortunate enough to receive another mail, and your letter of Nov. 9^th and mothers of the 11^th came to hand. It is needless for me to say that I was glad to hear from home again. You can scarcely imagine with what impatient eagerness we await the arrival of each mail, when our facilities for receiving news from home and the outside world are so irregular. We have no papers here except such as we receive by mail, and hence on that account I hope that mother will not fail to send the Examiner regularly. I was very glad to receive a couple to-day.

 

            To-day is Thanksgiving. / I suppose you would like to know how your soldier brother has fared "away down in Dixie". Well, then, I am happy to inform you that I have feasted right royally. Chickens, potatoes, peach sauce, corn bread, molasses, etc., have constituted our bill of fare; and these in no limited quantity either. Our mess of six devoured only three chickens. Our squad of 18 consumed 1 turkey, one goose, and no small quantity of delicious fresh pork. Truly we have fared well, nor will we soon forget Thanksgiving day, Nov. 26, 1863. Turkeys and chickens we can procure cheap here. A foraging party from our Company went out yesterday under the leadership of the Colonel, and the boys procured a large number of chickens and geese. The Colonel told them to pay 15 cents for chickens / and 35 for turkeys. If they wont take that, we take the chickens anyhow. This is somewhat different from paying 50 cents in Memphis for a little chicken that would hardly make a mouthful. I have thought more than once of you at home to-day and have hoped that you and mother have enjoyed the day as much and fared as well as I.

 

            But setting aside the consideration of the material viands, truly we have great cause for Thanksgiving. Bountifully has God blessed us as a Nation and as individuals. Victory has crowned our arms, and to-day, thanks to His aid, the rebellion is much nearer its end than one year ago. He has preserved the health of our armies in an extraordinary degree. He has preserved them from the malarious / sweeping plagues of this Southern climate, and that too in an extraordinary degree. Truly, I as an individual have great cause of gratitude. My health has been preserved wondrously, and temporally and spiritually, He has vouchsafed to me all needing strength. As a family, too we have cause of gratitude, that although we are far separated, Death has not taken our circle. May we never forget to

 

            "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow"

 

            It is needless for me to say that I was much surprised by your information concerning Alice. You ask how I think she will do for a minister's wife. I answer, she will make a splendid one,—one who will prove a "helpmeet" indeed to the one whom she loves. I think Frank and Alice both have done well, and that the match is an admirable one. I would like very much to congratulate Allie upon her choice.—By the way speaking of Frank, let me tell you something. To-day I received a letter from a certain young lady in which she says, "Report says that Frank Adkins and Kate Turner are going to make a match. I think that is capital." Having read your letter but a moment before, I thought it "capital", too, that is a capital joke. I regard the real match as much the best one. Neither Alice nor Mary need have any fears, that anyone will learn of their engagements, through any hints or information given by me.

 

            We are still in camp at this place, and I see no indications of a speedy movement. Railroad communcation is not yet completed, and we have been living to a considerable extent off the country. We have fared splendidly however.

           

But I must close.

                       

Write soon to

Your Brother

George.

 

I am nearly out of paper and envelopes.

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