Letter No. 15                                                  

In Camp near New Market

Co. C. 10^th Regt. W.V. Oct 24^th 1862

 

Dear Friends at Home.

                                    I just received your kind letter of the 17^th of this month & in it this sheet & 4 stamps & I now shall attempt to fill it so as to have it go out by tomorrah mail as the mail has gone out to day. The last letter that I wrote was at Camp Wildcat way east of here. you will see that they (our Generalls) got sick of chaseing Bragg & turned on their heal & began to think about winter quarters. I will tell you the plain truth. you see in almost every paper an account of the Battle at Perryville & it will say that Bragg got badly whiped his army completly used up & he not able to get out of the State. the truth is that the only way for him was to do the very thing he did & that was to check our column (Gen McCooks) in the fight he got the worse of it & if Buell had let his thousands of men that was within 3 miles of us come up & reinforce us & follow him up there would be nothing of Bragg & his army. during the day we / we held in check Braggs whole force & he finding out that he could not break through, he turned & started for the lines. we layed still two or three days so as to let the rebels get a good start & then we put double quick after him. the effect of that fight was a notice to Bragg that the best thing for him was to get out of Kentucky the best & fastest way he could & that he has done & you can say with his army almost as good as it was when he brot it here.

 

            Well here we are at Lebanon or near that place as we can camp on account of watter, waiting for our camp baggage to come up. where we will go to then I cant tell. we may get our knapsacks in a day or two. so I think I will have paper & materiels to write with all that I want. you did not say which letter you got. I have written two since the Battle this makes the 3^d in the 2^d most of the questions you ask are answered we got our new uniform in Louisville. we got the regulars dress coat. I tried to get my photograph taken but it was so cloudy that I could not sit & we left before I could get another chance. I may get another, which I will improve. as for the eatables you must never worry about me as for that. as for how I felt when the bullett hit me, well I cant tell. all I remmember is that I was just / putting a ball down my gun when I felt a stirring right on my breast. I pulled down my shirt & saw the ball. I got it out & put it in my gun & sent it back to the oner Mr Sesesh, of course. it would tire a person to keep going through the "manuel of arms" only it was in earnest that we were doing it. I was completly worne out out the next day I was all right as for the suspenders. I think that I can get them as cheep of Mr Johnson the Sutler of the 21^st as to have you send them. if you can get a good dairy I should like it very much. if you get one, get one that you can put a stamped envelop in with out doubleing the edges over. get one for 1863.

 

            I got two letters while we were at Talorsville but I dont dated the 8^th 12 & 23 & and a lot of papers I did not have a chance to read them all but I took along the Independent & Milwaukee Sentnell & Crescent in my pocket to read. those three I care the most about. when I have plenty of time I like the New York Tribune.

 

            I have seen all of the boys in the 21^st Charley Russell is at his old traid "cook". he says that he had rather be in the old tin shop than down here in Kentucky. the last I heard about Charley Fay was that he was doing very well. tell Sarah that she need not fear for as long as Buell is in command there will not / be another fight in this State unless it is with the Gurrillas & that the cavelry will have to do. I was right glad to see some all of the boys. I tell you, they are in our divission 28^th Brigade. the 1^st is in the same brigade.

 

            Alfred Galpin is detailed as Hospital Steward in Danville. there is Hospitals in every town. Harold stands it like a major. good many wish that they were at home but they will get used to a soldiers life soon. I am well & enjoying myself as much as any one I like to go over & see the boys & have a long talk. Capt Jewett & Leut Turner seem to be doing very well. they are well liked by the boys. their second Leut I am not acquainted with

 

            I saw Alfred Morse of Milwaukee in the 24 Regt & he told me that he saw George in Louisville on horse back he said that he stoped & talked with him & George said that he was in some Illinois Regiment, that is all I can learn about George. He may turn up some where & he may not. I told you about John McKillip in my last. if that was John that the Capt saw he is dead before this. the Capt said that his brains were comeing out of the wound, that is all we can find out about him. I hope John will get well if that was him there was no one liked better than John. he was always ready for duty & never failed when called on. Park we all miss very much. Caty never spoke or said whether she got a ring that I made in Alabama for her. did you ever get the likeness that I sent to you. when I send any thing, if you get it please let me know. we may get three or four months pay while we are here if so I shall send enough of my three months pay to make up $100.00 that I have sent home if we get 4 months I will send $50.00 & keep the extra 2 dollars. that will make $125.00 placed to my account, but I must close as the room is getting small. write soon send the Crescent as often as you get it. Yours as ever

                                                                       

Frank M. Phelps            direct via Louisville

 

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Give my best respects to all friends keep a lot of love to those at home

 

write soon       Frank

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