[Letterhead: Head-quarters, Department of the Cumberland,

Office Provost Marshal General.]

                                                Nashville, Decr 21^st 1863

 

My dear brother/

                        If this letter will reach you too late, to add to your Christmas festivity my humble but not none the less, most hearty wishes for a merry Christmas, it will be timely for New Year’s day & for that approaching time, I pray God, to grant you and Lona, one of great happiness, of cheerfullness in life’s care’s and troubles & to the addition of your earthly stores,—that “boy” you are looking for so intently and I want to think,—hopefully!—I hope to hear, that my family are with you, about “these days”, and if they are not, it must be on account of Mimi’s ill health.—For myself, as I think of the great joy it would afford me (& I am sure it would to my family) to be at home now, feel like singing, that little german stanza: [German, in German script]

 

I would not have you think, that the gloomy part of it, is all together my state of mind,—but the thought of home,—of/wife, children and kindred,—creates such feelings,—“[German in German script]”.—Well, I wish for myself—joy, with the hope, it may be the last Christmas, I shall be obliged to be away from them.—

 

            I trust, your business will be AWoL during the holydays, though I presume, you do not have many Gifts to dispose of;—Prosperity and extravagance is again so universal in the North, that merchants must do well again & I want to hear, that you also have a good share of it.—Here, it is beyond description. Women, trail the silk dresses in the mud, as though it were common bagging; men, (who have it) spend money, as free, as if there was no want to relieve,—no hearthstones to be gladdened with the necessaries of life;—But this place, is given to Debauchery, profligacy, Infidelity & all vices springing from it. It is no compliment to pay to Nashville, but ‘tis true;—it is, what the “fancy” style, “a gay place”.—

 

            We had & still have a cold snap;—the air is pure & good.—A few more fine days & the rainy season will commence; then ho! for mud & slush! No town could have more naturally drainage, & none more less done to improve it than Nashville & a few hours rain changes the dry streets to one vast sea of mud./

 

            That I have not received any reply to the two preceeding letters I wrote to you, I charge to your business engagements & await the answer patiently, knowing it will come in due time.—

 

            I am waiting to receive orders to be relieved from the Prov. Marshal General’s office and report to Capt. J. F. Isom, A.Q.M., at this Post.—My intention, if not expectations were to go in an Office on Grant’s Staff;—the prospects pointed that way at one time, but my destiny leads me to another path & by the friendship of almost total strangers (more business aquaintances) have succeeded in getting the position in a Quarter Master’s Office here;—to make myself perfectly at ease of having it, I must get the order from Genl. Thomas, to report there. I do not anticipate any difficulty about it, nor does Isom, for he wants me to go to work this morning and not wait for the detail, but it is better, first to be sure of it.—I am told, by unbiased parties, that Capt. Isom is a very good man to be with & that I shall find it a desirable place. To remain permanently here, is a matter of some desire for me & a point I weigh against priveleges I might get, at Genl. Grants Hd. Qs.—As regards my pay, I cannot say ansthing about it, at present, for I do not know myself.—/As an elisted man, I can make no bargain before hand, but must patiently & hopefully await the issue.—I have no misgivings as to that, nor enter with any promises pro or con.—I come well recommended to him & if I suit, he will do what he can for me.—If eventually successful there, it will be the best place for me, at all events. Trusting in God, I do what is before me as the duties of the day require it & cease to fret and worry, for the things of the morrow.

 

            That Whiskey you sent me by Remington, is still where it was, when it left Rockford,—in the box.—Thinking but little of that article, I only wish, I had the overcoat;—well, it will greet my eyes, some of these bright—summer mornings!—The fine eatables sent by folks at home to the boys of the 74^th, must be in a fine state by this time.—A little of the genuine article of “energy”, would have brought them to their owners long before this & the wearing apparels, more especially, been of great comfort to the boys!—I am not informed yet, whether the corps to which the 74^th is attached, has returned to Chattanooga from their chase after Longstreets defeated, but fighting veterans,—but am inclined to think so from the meagre news I have. Genl. Grant is in town now & will soon commence to correct the many wrongs, permitted to have crept in this Department.—From a mere intend to send you my affectionate greeting to the coming holydays and change of year, I made quite a letter of it;—the greater, your debt, brother & the pleasanter the anticipation of a long letter from you.—With love to Lona and regards to all enquiring friends, I remain

            as ever, faithfully                    Your brother

                                                                                    Edward

 

Have you been informed yet of cousin Emily’s wedding?—of course, I am left out in the cold & know nothing about it, but nevertheless Cousin Em has none to wish her greater happiness than myself.—a wedding present I cannot make

 

[front top margin:       As I expect, that this office, may be broke up any day, before a letter from you, can reach me, address it, to                 “St. Cloud Hotel” Nashville;—I shall have Sarah inform you at once, as soon, as she hears, that I am with Capt. Isom or if not there,—where else.—am in good health.

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