Franklin Tennessee August 2^ond /62

           

Dear Brother

I have recieved no answer from you yiet although I have written several letters to you the rest of the folks I am now with Reg^t it seems rather lonesome there is hardely a Sargents squad left there is about 300 men left to tell the sad tale of a war like this who would think that out of so manny wel & harty men in all the glory of manhood who left their homes but one year since the endure the hardships of war that but so few would endure what they have had to pass through they have traveled the south over & also the east & North weaks have they layed exposed to the weather with no covering & as you may say with nothing to eat to eat at least not more than enough to keep them alive I suppose you are sorry that I have returned to the reg^t as I have done but I cannot help it as I would not like to / be discharged until the war is over I engaged in the service of my country with the intention to serve it to my best ability & that determination has not died away yiet & I hope it may not as long as the war lasts we had quite a time whilst on picket night before last some cavelry from Nashville came arunning in through the pickets half drunk there was sicks guns fired the camp was alarmed One of them happened to get singled aout from the rest & on he came right towards me I happened to be on guard alone as the boys had been up the night I thought I would stand in one of their places on he came as I sayed before apparently right at me my bayonett was fixed & ready for enny thing that minght come he handily gave me time to shoot & it was not my intention so to do when in propper distance I ordered a halt he immediately drew in but not until within six inches of the point of my bayonett which would passed through him in a moment more but he stopped in time excitement was up & there was no run / by this time there was others to assist so we had him dismount & & was examined by this the rest of the Company came up & we found them to be the 7 Pensylvania Cavelry if I had shot him down I should have been justifiable in so doing but my plan is to know who I shoot first before I shoot the gurileress are verry thick a person is in danger of firing shot enny moment the Lieutenant sayed day before yesterday that the Colone^l was agoing have me a scoutting as soon as I get wel & am verry wel at preasant all except a touch of the diarhoea what do you think of my scoutting there is twice the danger here that there was in Virginia it is thickly settled & & the Cittizans are very tretcherous I think that I have done my share but the Colonel wil not trust enny one else so good by as the pickets are a fireing at this moment and the reason we do not know

           

Yours with m love give my love to all that enquire after me direct the 8^th Reg^t 19 briggade

                                                                       

Your Brother

Wm H Peck

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