camp 5 miles south of

Nashville

Nov the 25^th 1862

 

Dear Sister

I now seat myself to answer Sarah your long neglected letter I received your letter the 10^th of the month one reason I did not was becaus I had no postage stamps postage stamps are about as scarce as hens teeth and not to be had here unless you can beg or borrow them from some fortunate individual I borrowed three from George Jones. I wrote to Mag for to send me some and I expect get them the next letter. Well Sarah I was sory to hear that Jimmy was drafted. it will pretty hard for you to get along this winter tending to the horses and cattle but you will have to do the best you can and not fret or grumble about/ it if anything goes wrong you may as well laugh as cry if you make up your mind to be contented you will find it as easy as to be discontented. When I wrote to you before I was driver now I am canoneere I dont know whether it is anymore dangerous than the infantry or not I guess about the same I have received two letters from Mag since she got back there but I have not answered either of them yet I think I will write some to day and send it together Mag says that Jimmy has gone I suppose you know how it goes to do all the work bye this time you say Isaac Mason is drafted will he go him self or get a substitute. you think that Jimmys finger excuse him that will depend altogether on the mustering Officer if Sees fit/ to take him he will do it if not he wont soldering is pretty hard business but it is not so hard if a person just makes up his mind that it has to be done anyhow and keep up his spirets. but there is thousands of men in this army that just fret themselves to death they get a little discouraged and give right up report themselves to the doctor and get excused from duty when ever they feel alittle unwell and then they will lay around in there tents from morning till night and from night till morning and think about nothing but a discharge and home. I for my part have made up my mind to take things just as they come and calculate exercise alittle every day and then if I get sick it wont be my fault in this Battery a person can have all the work/ he wants to do and more to. we have been camped right across the river from Nashville. last satturday we moved our camp to this place there is no telling how long we will stay here. well I must come to a close write soon and tell me all the news tell me how Jimmy likes it allso where he is the regiment and c^o. When you write to him tell him that I send him my best respects and want him to write to me. Mag says Rachel and Jud Terrell has run away I think they are acting quite romantic that being the case how does harriet stand it and how does Jane get along since she is maried and tell me Lew Dunham and Jeptha Frasier geting along give my respects to all enquiring friends and relation Direct your letters to Battery I 2^d regiment Ill Vol                                               L L

                                                Light Artillary Louisville

                                                            Ky

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