Athens, Ala., March 11, 1864.

 

Dear Mother:

                        Your letter of Feb. 27 was received a few days since, but I have had no opportunity to answer it until to-day. Yesterday evening I returned from a forage trip occupying two days. We became short of rations in consequence of the cars running off the track and smashing up, and consequently a forage expedition was sent out to pick up whatever we could find in the country. Part of the train returned to camp the same evening, but the rest of us went out about 15 or 18 miles, and camped over night. We found plenty of corn and hogs. At night we camped on a plantation, took possession of the house, and set the darkeys to work cooking for us. We feasted on corn bread and pork, ad infinitum that / night. We have a cool way of doing things on such expeditions. The wagons are driven up to the corn cribs and filled, and men scatter around, shooting hogs, driving in cattle, catching chickens, etc. Then if the owner is around he receives a certificate on which he can get pay if loyal, which seldom is the case however. If he doesn't come around we drive off with our spoils. On our road we met one man with a load of meal. Stopping him, we relieved him of half his load, giving him certificate of the fact. It becomes necessary at times to take almost the last mouthful. Farming in this country is not a very profitable business these days. On our way back we took a roundabout road and visited a mill. There was no meal on hand, but we took possession of some corn and set the miller to work, and ground up a supply. The miller's / daughter was one of the most bitter, open secesh that I have ever seen. One of our boys talked to her in a provoking way just for fun, and she was very open in expressing her hatred of Yankees in general and him in particular. I was much amused to hear her talk. She had the complete Southern twang in her pronunciation.

 

            Contrary to my expectation when last I wrote, Athens is still our camping place. Decatur was taken by our forces with almost no opposition. The boats were taken up the river about five miles, and about three o'clock in the morning our forces embarked. The morning was dark, and a thick fog covered the river. The boats quietly floated down until nearly in front of the town before they were discovered. The 63^d, 43^d, and 11^th Ills. were aboard. Two or three shots / were fired by the pickets, and the boats were at once headed for the Decatur shore. The rebel pickets fired five or six shots and then took to their heels. Only one of our men was wounded, belonging to the 63^d. No further opposition was made, and the rebels who were camped outside the town skedaddled double quick. There was but a small force there. Our troops now hold the place.

 

            I now see no immediate prospect of our leaving here, although of course the tenure of military location is always uncertain.

 

            The weather is quite springlike here. Flowers are beginning to bloom, trees to bud and leave out, the grass to spring up. Yesterday I saw a peach tree in bloom.

 

            I am almost ashamed to write to you for money; but it is a fact that I am completely run ashore. We lived at our own expense almost all the time on our trip here, and it used up all my funds nearly. Facilities for cooking were so poor that we could scarcely do otherwise. Please send me about three dollars.

            My health is good; so is William's. He wrote you a letter a few days since.

 

            I see that Dr. Clarke has visited Marietta again. Did he tell any new stories, or is he the same individual as of old?

 

                        But I must close.

                                   

Write soon to

Your Son,

SOURCES