No 29                                     

In Camp foot of "Lookout Mt." Georgia.

August September 9^th 1863

 

Dear Friends.

                        As we are not going to move this forenoon I thought that I would improve the opportunity to and let you know what we have been doing since we left Anderson Station. on the 31^st of August one battalion of the Regulars came up to relieve us. on the 2 of Sept. we started. the 2 brigade was in camp 5 miles below us & they started on by the way of Stevenson so our Col. commanding the brigade got permission to cross over the mountains to Bridgeport, which was not so far as around by Stevenson, but we had to send our wagon train by that rout. well on the 2^d we started at 6 A.M. the train starting the same time the other way. we did not have to go more than ½ of a mile before we struck the foot of the mountain as the valley is not very wide there. we had to climb about a mile, but the worse was to come for about 300 ft. it was as steep if not steeper than any roof in town. here we had to pull our selves up by cetching hold of rocks & little bushes that would hold. when we got on the top we were prety well "bushed". I will tell you what we had to carry. 1^st our knapsacks, in that 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of socks, portfolio, diary, wollen blanket, oil blanket & dog tent. this is what I had. great many of the / boys had more. just the knapsack with what I named in weighs about 30^lbs next is our haversack with 3 days rations in which is impossible for us to carry. we most generally get 2 days full rations in for 3 days that weighs about 6 lbs. next a canteen full of watter, about 3 pints. then comes our gun & accoutrements. gun—12 lbs. 40 rounds of amunition &c 8^lbs. all together over 56 pounds some little weight to have to carry every day through this hot & burning sun. after we had rested for a while on top we started & went down in the valley. about noon we stoped by a splendid spring & got some dinner. after that we went on untill we came on the main road where we stoped for the night. the next morning we marched on & through Bridgeport & camped about a mile south on the banks of the Tennessee river. We stayed there that day & filled up our haversacks so as to have 3 days rations on hand all of the time. we could not cross the river as Sheridans division was crossing & we had to wait. we stayed there all night & most of the next day. about noon we had orders to pack up & in a little while we were on the road back for the bridge. there is only one bridge here, two above & one below opisite Stevenson. the one here is a very poor one. only one team can cross at a time, but we got over all right about dark & camped on the south side for the first time. next morning we started on for the State line. we crossed the line between Alabama & Tennessee on the first mountain we crossed after leaveing the Station now we were for Georgia. we / marched about 5 miles when we had to stop at the foot of Rackcoon mountain & wait for Sheridans train to cross over. they got up about noon & then we commenced getting our train up. this mountain is about 1300 ft high & prety steep for wagons to go up. we did not get up only part of the train so we had to stay here all night. next morning our Regiment was detailed to help the rest up we was gone till about 4 oclock when we were ordered back to get our things & follow on as the other brigade had gone on & one Regiment of ours. the rest was working getting the train up. we came back & got some coffee & then started on went up the mountain when we was most up to the top we stoped & we could see way back over the river for miles. we did not stop untill 8 oclock PM with in a short distance of the line the road on top of the mountain was very dusty. it made me think of last fall when we went into Tullahoma. the next morning we started early & crossed the state line just as we did the other on top of the mountains. we came down the mountain & stoped in "Lookout valley" for dinner. after that we started on. hot oh so hot. prety soon it commenced to cloud up & in a short time it was fairly pouring down we marched till we came to this place when we had to stop & wait for Negleys train to cross over this mountain. "Mount Lookout" is way up by Chattanooga. the range extends way down here. when we cross over this we will be in Chattanooga valley right on the road that connects that place with Atlanta. our destination is Dalton for the present. if you have a war map you / can see our position Old Rossey says if we do our work well this time we will have a long resting spell. we have every confidence in him that this blow will kill Bragg & his army & be a severe one for the whole Confederacy. let us wait & see. fruit has been picked down in this country once in a while we find apples. we find plenty of wild grapes on the side of the mountain.

 

Yesterday we did nothing but wash up we expected to move to day but there is no prospects of our going right away. I received a letter from you on the fifth mailed by you on the 31. was very glad to get it. I thought that my letters were delayed on the road some where as the mail did not come through very regular. I dont suppose we will get mail very often now as we will be on the move untill either Bragg or ourselves are whiped but I am not afraid of that.

 

            All of the boys are anxious to hear from Charleston as we have not heard a thing or seen a paper since we left the station. I hope Gilmore has got the place by this time but I must close & go after some watter for dinner. write soon & often as you can send me home papers that tells about the draft &c I want to see what you are doing up in the state. give my best respects to all who enquire. Cousin Jim is well & sends his best respects to the folks. Alfred & Harold are getting along as well as can be wished for all of the boys are in excellent health. You must not worry if you dont hear from me very often now I dont know whether I will have a chance to send this out or not.

 

love to all.                                                      

 

Yours as ever  Frank M Phelps

 

[front margin upside down]

 

Please send me some stamps as I use the last one on this envelop

Frank.

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