Miss    March 28^th 1862

 

My Dear Father

                        I received your letter some time back and have not had an opportunity of answer it for we have been on the march from the midle of January untill the present date and I know not whether we are stop yet or not. we are encampt at corinth in the state of Miss. the are expected a big fight near this place there is a great many troops concentrating at this point we have some 110 Regiments at this place we left bowling Green the 14 of January we wer ordered out on a scout the day before up to wards Green river we went up as fare as horse care we found no enemy excep a few who had come dow with a flag of truce we came back near Boling Green. the next day we came on to camp and on the fourteenth they commenced bombarding Boling Green the bombs wer whistling a round I tell you they did not sound sweet The yanks are getting the upper hand of us we were whipt at Donelson and we have lost Gen McCullock who was kill a short time back in Masouria and several other officiers the yanks have possession of nashville I was sory to leave that place for we wer treat so kind by the people. the rangers wer the choice of the army we were ordered out on a scout to ward fort Donelson we were gone near a week we stoped at a little town called Franklin we left our waggons below nashville so we independent on the people for our food but I assure you we fared suntiously they brought meat and bred in a bundance the yanks were not treated with such hospitality. /

 

Father and Mother brothe and sister I tell you we have had a fore taste of what our fore Fathers had in achieveing our independence. we have rode both day and night in the snow and in the rain and slept on the wet ground or in the snow with out tents or house to protect us from the weather we slept with our horses saddled and our armes under our heads.

 

As I was on gard last evenig I take my seat to finish my letter. I received Gracys letter some time since you wanted to know whether i have found any of our connection or not. I have found nun yet. we one preacher in the regiment we have no preaching in some time for we have been on the march so long. Tell Mother i would like to have some summer clothing if there was iney way to get them I want you to give me the address of Uncle Harvey and uncle John so if I should get dow in georgia I would know how to find them. The boys are all in good health and are cherful and gay I way more than I ever did tell henry Bone that I have not time to write well I must close give my respecs to all inquireing friends and reserve a portion for your sell yours untill deat

                                                                                   

J. E. Bartlett

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