Winchester, July 24.1863

 

Mrs Sumner

            Respected Friend,

                                                I am at last with my company and enjoying^(?) once again camp life—I assure you I spent a sad night after leaving you, it seemed harder to go back, than it did to start when I first enlisted. I thought of Mother and how bad she would feel when she heard I had realy gone back for I think she had looked forward to my return home as almost a certainty. then my brother was so near me, all seemed wrong because I could not see him. I hated to say good bye to my friends who had been so kind to me. Mrs. Sumner, I can never be thankful enough to Mrs. Thompson Mary, Nannie, Will and all the household for their kindness to me. I cared little for life when I left camp but/friendly, encouraging voices and the best of treatment made me cast off that gloom and improve immediately. I now think my mind was worse than my body. it is terrible to be so down hearted. All is, I know of no way to repay you all, but while I sincerely hope you may never need a favor at my hands, yet I as sincerely hope it may be my fortune to render it should you need it—

 

Sunday found me on my way to Nash. nothing of interest happened—except eating Mary’s lunch and loading up when our conductor recd a note that some Guerrillas were waiting for us. we reached Nash. and their I met two of my Regt. who spirited me away declaring I should not go through Nash. without seeing my friends; that evening I took tea at Hosp. No 3 and was introduced to the Miss Chase of whom you have heard me speak—I found her a very good/looking young lady about 20 to 25 years old and very smart—she talked all the evening and told me many incidents of her service in the East—she has been over 2 years in service and says for 18 months she slept with her blanket in the ground.

 

“Our Regt.” as she calls the 15 Pa. has good cause to think everything of her. The next day I called on many of our boys detailed in Nash. and everywhere was urged not to go back. I took tea with Mrs. Morton whom I have mentioned to you—Miss Chase had been sick in bed all day but she sat up in the evening and sent for me to come to her room as I had promised to spend the evening with her. I was so entertained by her interesting conversation, collection of Photographs, letters from every part of the country &c &c that 12 o’c came before I knew it. She has letters from Rosecrans, Garfield & great men & women East & West./

 

The next day was spent with the boys very pleasantly, and early on Wednesday I bade all good bye and left for Tullahoma—Reaching there I found my Regt. had gone to Winchester but as I could not follow that day I went out to a courier post 3 m. before the Pickets—our boys have courier lines from Tullahoma to Winchester & Manchester. The boys were glad to see me and soon I sat down to a good supper—They have a deserted farm near by and consequently have the use of an Orchard & 3 fine cows. I was very much surprised when they sat before me excellent blackberry & huckleberry pies green apple sauce hot buscuit &c &c all of their own cooking. they live high.

 

            One boy had two fingers shot away by a bushuhacker the night before—Next morning I went back to town and the cars soon left me in to eckart from which place I came here on horseback. the cars will come here in a few days—I found my company near Head Qurs. doing Escort duty to the Genl. the rest of the Regt. is away about a mile doing courier duty &c &c—Today I called on my friend/Griffith and went to dinner with him. he boards at Mrs. Cochran’s whose husband is a Surgeon in the Reb. Army. There were two young ladies there from Mississippi, Misses Garner. they are violent Secesh of course, call our Army the Yankee horde, still Mrs. Cochran is glad to get the Hd Qr. clerks to board at her house for then she gets their rations and makes a good thing of it compared with what she has suffered—She says a year ago she would not have eaten with a Yankee

 

                        This is a beautiful region and I hope I shall be able to keep well—

Remember me kindly to Mary, Nannie Will, Horace and Mrs Thompson.

 

            I am to take command

            tomorrow morning and then

            I expect to be busy—

With the best of wishes for you all I remain

 

            Very Respectfully Yours

                        Wilmon W. Blackman

                                    “[?]” Co. Anderson Cav.

                                                Winchester Tenn.

 

P. S. A flower from Rosy’s garden.

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