Nashville Tennassee Mar 8^th 1862

Saturday Eve  

           

Dear Brother

I recieved your on the 4^th but have had no chance to answer it until now as the weather has been to cold to permit me to do so we left Felterman Feb 19^th in hog cars & it was verry cold as the snow blew into the cars nearly all the way for 4 days & nights to that i did not lay down at all we were 11 days on the road wel nigh played out when we arrived here this town is beautifully situated & the country around makes everry thing seem pleasant on our way down the river we passed a number of towns but above all i must give Madison the greatest prase for her loyalty they seemed / over-joyed at seeing us as we slowly floated down the river we embarked at Cincinnati Sunday the 23^th Morn passed Madison & reached Louisville the same day Boston Ind is on the opposite side of the river we reached the mouth of the Cumberland River Feb 26^th passed Ft Donaldson the 27^th i still continue in good health except a cold which i have had evercince i watched the greenbriar Valley the 2ond night after the Buffalo Run fight caused by laying on the cold wet ground March 5^th i witnessed a seen which is not often enacted the execution of Michael O Charwel private 24 Ohio Regt shot for attempting to kill a corporal as he was trying to desert he shot 4 times at the Corporal but missed him he pleaded guilty & was sentanced to be shot they mar / ched him around in front of the brigade twice as it was drawn up in close order so all could see at the same time playing the death march with his coffin in front of him he was a brave fellow he eaven kept time with the music when he was shot he stood by the side of his coffin & when he fell he fell partially lengthways & then rolled off on the ground the blood can be seen there yiet it seemed rather cool but i have seen so manny shot that i did not think much about it you may calculate there is a quite a large squad of men here i am not allowed to tell you how manny this is the 4^th division department of the Ohio i sent you that dollar back in gold the last letter i wrote so no more at preasant / please write soon you may tell your sister in law i was much pleased with her compliment you may return a little mor from me give my love to parents & brothers & sister I remain yours as ever.

                                                                       

W^m. H. Peck

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