Stevenson Alabama

Nov 5^th 1863

           

Dear Parients

                                    Your letter of the 20^th of Oct I recieved a few days since together with the shirt and the two dollars father put in Many thanks for them all. The money was indeed most acceptable for beside paying a few little debts I had I bought something to eat. We dont draw full rations yet. We are stationed in this place the Regt is scattered all around here Most of our Company are doing guard duty at the depot where there are a large lot of stores for the army in front. We are putting up winter quarters are prepareing for a long stay. Col. Ross is an old / friend of Gen Hooker and was placed in command here by a special order from him. Col and Gen Hooker were together in the Mexican war. But after all we may be ordered to leave but it dont look much like it at present. You wrote that you would like my picture. I suppose I look about the same as ever but if you will send me 5 dollars in greenbacks I will send you one

 

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It will not cost $5 to have my picture taken but I shall charge you that for it if you dont send me yours

 

and furthermore if you will send me a lot of stamps I will send you my old "war" worn cap which I wore at the Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg in fact nearly all the while I was in Va after we went to Stafford C.H. Hen sent his home when we were at Kellys ford but I wore mine untill I got out or down / here and I have kept it for I thought you would like to have it at home. It looks rusty but you know I wore it through rain and sun heat and cold all through the Penn campaign and crossed the Rappahannock six times the Rapidan once and the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers I dont know how many times and finally out here. So you see the old cap has traveled some. So give me the stamps and I will send it along. we cant get stamps for love nor money here. Stevenson is not a very large place but still is of some importance being the junction of the Nashville and Chattanooga and Memphis and Charleston Railroads and is now a great depot for supplies I would not complain if we were kept here for the remainder of our three years / provided the war lasts so long. Every day families from the front and mountains come in to take the cars to go North not a day has passed since we have been here but two or three families are here going where they can be away from the rule of Jeff Davis. Since I have been here I have seen men that belonged to Georgia Regiments that deserted after the Battle of Gettysburg, got as far as here waiting for our troops to advance so they can get to their families to go North and they tell me that there are many more who would leave if they could get away. But Jeff watches his troops more than Uncle Sam does and they cant get away so easy. I saw a fellow the other day who belonged to the 21^st Georgia Rebel Regt. He was at the Battles of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville and / was in one of the Regts that we fought. I know this to be so from the description of the battlefield where he was especially at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He said we gave them the roughest handleing there they ever got and they were devilish glad to get out of it. He told me that many of his Regiment would get away but for the guard and if the guard was all right there would be no end to the deserters. All of these fugitives unite in curseing Jeff, and wishing him buried in the bottom of the devil's deepest pit. But I cannot write more now. I have written this in a hurry. Please send the money and stamps when convenient. I will write again in a few days we have been very / buisy putting up our houses and we have not yet finished them. When we get settled I shall have more time and will write letters. With much love to all I remain your aff. son

Henry

 

Write often I recd a letter from Nel some time since and will answer soon. Hen

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