Nashville January 20^th 1864

 

My dear brother.

                                    However little I have to write to you, I will at least acknowledge the receipt of your’s of the 7^th.

 

                                    Am really glad to know, that you done well during the Holyday’ season and also, that you hit so happily on a good clerk; particular as you are in such matters, I am confident, he must be XXX;—don’t spoil him. I wish you could succeed equally as well in getting a girl for Lona; (not Loana,—how can you make such a mistake); poor girl!—by George, it is time you substituted the word woman for it! I am sure, you have been married long enough, to make the change!

 

            I don’t presume Brazee can tell you much, he is a man, who troubles himself little, how other people get along.—

 

            I gave a letter of introduction to you to Capt. Stockdale, Asst. Prov. Mar. G^l on Gen^l Grant’s Staff; he intends to visit Rockford to see certain parties; should he come, I know, he will meet with a friendly greeting by you; he will explain his own business; let the fact of his intendet coming remain with/you; he desires also to drop quietly in town & leave it the same way.—He is aquainted with me enough, to be free in telling you, what he is after.

 

            I received an order last week to return to my Regiment; it was Wile’s work, but it dont avail him anything. I am with Capt. Isom and am retained here by the Prov. Mar. G^l of Grant’s staff. In the mean while, I have made a statement of affairs with Wiles, had it endorsed wit by Isom, sent it, rather took it to Stockdale, who also endorsed it & handed it to the Adjt. Gl. of their Staff, who sent it to G^l Thomas;—the answer has not come back yet. Genl. Granger also telegraphed about it & the answer, ‘though merely as to some papers sent in the matter, shows conclusively, that things dont hitch at Dept Hd. Qs.—If they won’t grant the detail, Major Rowley (Prov. Mar. G^l) tells me he will have me detailed at once to his Office.—I really wish, Stockdale would come to Rockford,—he can tell you the whole story;—it is too tedious to write it.—I like my position at Isom very much,—live well,—have comfortable Quarters and get through with work before 8 o’clock P.M., commencing about that time in the morning./

 

I believe, I am getting fleshy. I know, my cloths pinch me,—a month ago, they felt loose and comfortable.—The biggest thing I done lately, is not only learning to smoke cigars, but to like to do it; I smoke one, every day,—when I happen to have one given to me; (don’t have any money to spend for it) I have not been without one yet for the two weeks past. My overcoat is yet where—I can’t see it,—I have given it up for lost. I got me a new one,—had it three days when some damn cuss stole it out of our office,—so I am without one.—The weather has moderated sufficient, to make the streets a bed of mud; it is thawing very fast,—was’nt much to be done anyhow.—But [German script], how cold you have it up in Greenland, where you live. it is enough to freeze one’s ___ but no matter.—I only wish, I was there for the purpose of keeping my girl from suffering from the cold (of course) these trying nights!—“When this cruel war is over”,—and so forth &c &c; you know the rest, I have no doubt,—if you dont know all of the song, you “hearn” tell of it & probably whistled by somebody. Does your Rockford band play it? The Barracks joining our office,—/they have a Brass band there;—serenaded Capt. Isom the other evening,—he called them in to give them Whiskey,—they had the “brass” to play that ‘ere tune in his room after playing it out doors, until I got tired of it and wished them in Dixie;—however, I wished I had “my Sarah” by my side; oh, Lord, how long!—how long!!—

                        I hope Lona keeps well,—so she gets no worse;—by spring she will feel better; my love to her.—

 

                        Whenever I find anything worth while to mention about, concerning myself, you shall know it.—The time of my enlistment is rapidly passing,—the time to finish it, seems very very long,—but day after day passes & finis shortens it.—I expect to make no money in that time but God grant but health & patience to “endure” the time coming to entitle me to a discharge.—

                        Good bye.

                                                Your affectionate brother

 

Respects to enquiring friends,                        Edward

if there are any left,—how is it about that?—

21^st

The small Pox is very bad in town. Deaths by it are of daily occurrence; the Doctor in charge of the Post Hospital told me he had 529 cases on hand; it is increasing at the rate of one hundred a week.—

                                                Yesterday it was a warm, spring like day;—a greeting from the North changed it to day to a cold, chilly, disagreeable weather.

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