Athens, Alabama, Feb. 23, 1864.

 

Dear Sister:

                        Yesterday we arrived at this place, which is about 15 miles south of Prospect. We stopped at Prospect over night, at which place I received mother's letter of Feb. 14. Here we were joined by the men of our Regiment who did not re-enlist, so that with our new recruits we have now about 900 men. We will probably remain in this vicinity but a few days. As soon as our Brigade gets together, we will probably advance to the Tennessee River, at Decatur, which is about 10 miles distant. The railroad from Nashville is finished nearly up to this point, although trains run only to Pulaski as yet.

 

            But now that I have told you of my whereabouts, let me go back to our trip up the Cumberland. Just before reaching Clarksville a very high ledge of massive / rock juts out to the very water's edge, for quite a long distance. In some places it is 80 or 100 feet in height, and almost perpendicular. And yet although it is seemingly solid rock, and so steep, yet it is covered with cedar. How the trees gain a foothold among the crevices of the rocks is to me almost inexplicable. At Clarksville we remained over night. The place is occupied by us our forces, and a branch railroad from the Louisville and Nashville road comes down to it. Between here and Nashville are Harpeth Shoals, over which heavily laden, large boats cannot go at this stage of water. Large quantities of freight are piled up upon the levee. The town is situated upon a bluff, some 100 or 150 feet above the waters edge. It has been in times past a place of a great deal of business, judging from the number and extent of its warehouses. It has had a population of 2000 or 3000, and contains some five or six church edifices. It is rather of an old looking town.—The next morn- / ing, the whole Regiment moved upon one boat. Our Regiment boat was too heavily loaded, and we could not pass the shoals. The other boat was a smaller one. We were very much crowded by this new arrangement, but as it was now only about fifty or 60 sixty miles to Nashville we were satisfied. We left Clarksville, about 9 A.M. and steamed along quite slowly. We reached the shoals about 3 o'clock. We disembarked and walked around them, so as to lighten the boat. We marched about five miles. The boat passed over safely, and we again got aboard. We were now about 30 miles from Nashville. The boat ran until within about 12 miles of the city and then lay up. The boat was crowded, and I lay out upon the hurricane roof. The night was quite cold, and there was a slight fall of snow. Five or six of us laid down our blankets together, and thus we managed to sleep with some degree of comfort. The next day we ran up to Nashville. As you / approach the city the most prominent object that strikes the eye is the State House. It is situated upon the summit of a little elevation, that makes it a conspicuous object. It is a large, imposing edifice, although I think not equaling the Columbus state house. The grounds around the building are in an unfinished condition, being filled with lumber, stone, etc. On our way to the barracks we passed a large fine door yard, in which I suppose rest the remains of President Polk. At least a tombstone monument and arch within the yard bore his name. A fine large brick edifice was in the background, which I believe is the residence of Mrs. Polk, who is still living. After remaining in Nashville at the barracks two days we embarked on the train for Pulaski. The day was quite pleasant. We ran very slowly. Our train was heavy, and the grades frequently quite steep. Two or three times we were compelled to uncouple and make two trips of it. Only one train had passed over the road from Columbia to Pulaski before, and there were no conveniences for supplying the engine with wood and water, which caused much delay. We spent the night in the cars, as best we could. There were about 60 of us in a car, we being in boxes box cars, with no seats but our knapsacks. We arrived at Pulaski about 3 o'clock Sabbath morning. About 11 o'clock the same morning, we started and marched to Prospect Station, camped there overnight, and the next day proceeded to this point. The day was warm; so much so that the sweat rolled off us freely. We passed over a poor section / of country. For four or five miles before reaching this place, the roads are quite bad and the ground quite swampy. A good deal of pine is found. The day being rather warm, the march wearisome, and many of the men unaccustomed to it, quite a number gave out and lagged behind. It was pretty hard on William, although he did not get far behind. He has a quite heavy knapsack, and he has come to the conclusion that he must lighten it. A person don't need to march many hundred miles to learn a lesson in that respect. As for myself, I stood it very well, feeling no uncommon fatigue.

 

            There are six of us in a mess, and we were fortunate enough to secure a tent to ourselves. Jno. Stewart and I partner together. The mess consists of / Matthew Stricker, Albert Olner, William Pfeiffer, his brother-in-law, Jno. Pfeiffer, and Jno. Stewart and myself.

 

            But I must close now. Will write again in four or five days.

                       

Direct to Athens, Alabama.

           

I am

Your Brother,

George.

SOURCES