No 28  Home

Hd. Qurs. 10^th Regt. Wis. Vol

Camp at Anderson Station Tenn.

Aug. 24^th 1863

 

Dear Friends.

                        As I have nothing to do for a while I thought that I would commence a letter to you & if I did not have time to finish it this afternoon I would in the morning. I wrote you last on the 15 since then we have been doing nothing of any importance except haveing our daily inspection. we have had "dress parade" but twice since we have been here. have no drill but considerable fatigue work to do. of the divisions out of our corps that is on this road 2000 men has to be detailed daily to cut wood for the RR. we have 30 men out of our Regiment each day & 20 on police, 20 on guard. so you see the guard duty is very light. we have two men on at the depot, one at the tank & one at the spring or watter spout. those that dont stand at these places has to guard the trains when they come down. they are rushing supplies through here very fast, as fast as they can get them over the road. 3 trains loaded with pontoons passed by here last week. they have has been considerable cannonadeing down at Bridgeport for the last week. the rebels seems mean to make a stand & keep us from crossing the river if they can. Gen Rosecrans head- / quarters are at Bridgeport. Gen Thomas has his at Stevenson. a rumor came in to day that 1,500 rebels came over & gave them selves up yesterday. we have no proof that the rumor is correct. the rebels say that our forces have taken "Fort Sumpter" we are waiting anxiously for good news from there soon. it will be a hard blow for the rebs to loose that place. I wish they would make a stand in the city then our forces woul could destroy it. "shell it" burn it anything that will not leave but smokking ruins to show where the hot bed of secession stood.

 

            Together with the good news of the fall of Charleston you may look hear of the capture of Chattanooga & that we are marching on to the capitol of Georgia. Knoxville & Chattanooga has got to go. Old Rosey is on the track now. that he is a smart Generall, Bragg knows & he is afraid of him with his army driven out of Tennessee, his men discouraged. he will not be able to make a hard resistance unless Johnson reinforces him but then we are enough for both of them.

 

            Since I wrote you last troops have been moveing forward. the 2^d division (Maj Gen Negley's) has passed through here. the right wing (20 Corps) has gone to crossed the mountains from Winchester. the 21 Corps (left wing) crossed over from Decherd through Tracy City to Jasper & Battle Creek on the road Bragg took in going north last fall. so you see we are clear to the rear again, that is of our corps. the Reserve / corps is behind of us yet. Maj Gen Gordon commanding Head quarters at Shelbyville two divisions of our corps crossed the mountains with the 21 corps the army is recruiting prety fast most all of the Ohio Regiments have sent home men to bring up drafted men to fill their regiments up. all sick soldiers that were left behind are comeing up. I wish they would go to drafting or do something to fill up old Regiments from our state that have run down to 200 or 300 men. they should be filled up as soon as those from other states. now out of our brigade the 2-33-& 94 Ohio have sent home men prety soon they will have their regiments filled up to 800 duty men & here we are with 250 all told the 38 Indiana has been filled up. I guess we are the smallest regiment in the brigade now.

 

            Fruit is just getting ripe peaches are plenty we have all we want of them apples are getting scarce we have not had many pears. I had some very nice ones last week. I was going out into the country to day after some peaches & apples but could not go as we had to fix up a place for our company cook. The Col. has ordered each company to have a cook again we are all glad of it as we can keep so much cleaner in our tents, wont have no rations in them now I shall go out to morrow if I am not on duty or it dont rain. it has been clouding up this afternoon & as it is prety hot it may rain.

 

            I have received that package of paper in / which was those two bells of the B.-V.-R.-R. I think they are prety good. one of the boys said he would put it up on the depot. the other I sent down to James today. have not had a chance to send down or go down yet. to day a Lieut was up & I sent it down the 1^st Ohio has gone down to Stevenson & one battalion out of the regular brigade.

 

            I received a letter from Catie last week was very glad to hear from you again. about my writeing to Mr Doe I dont know. I should like to & may one of these days but I dont promis for we may move & then I can not possibly. I will think of it. Oh there is one thing I almost forgot & that is, some things I want for this fall & winter. A good many of the boys are doing the same thing. I shall want another pair of boots made the same size as the first pair with these alterations, the tops not quite so large, light heel irons put on & the bottom of the sole nailed full of these round headed tacks. next a pair of shirts, if it is convenient for you to make them. if it is I will tell you the kind I should like dark blue flannel with a pocket out side so I can wear it without a coat, without a collar. out a large hem make the shirts to suit your selves only have the pocket in them if you have time to spare you can put in a pair of socks. then there will be a few things I shall want Uncle to get, but as I shall make out a regular bill I will put it in then. I dont want them right away, but any time in the next month & ½. by that time you may have a chance to send them down or I may be where I shall not want them. the reason I want the shirts is these we get from the government are white & half cotton. they are miserable things & I know if you get me some they will last me a while but I must close & get ready for our evening inspection & then help get supper when we will have inspection. write soon. love to all at home respects to all who enquire for me. I remain as ever          Frank.

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