Head Quarters Convalesent Camp

                                                                                    LaGrange Tenn. Jan 22^nd 1863

 

            Dear Sister

                                    I have just received yours of the 18^th this morning. I was so pleased with your picture. I think I have taken it out of my pocket a dozen times today to look at it. I should not have know it if it had not come from home & then I could not tell wheather it was you or Jennie. I judge from your letter that the last letter you received from me was writen from Oxford. I wrote you annother from Holly Springs after we came back from Oxford. We had a great time in Holly S. & from one to a dozen fires evry night. the night before we left Holly Springs I received a very serious fall at a fire. I was the first to discover the fire in a building about the size of the old Mureay block, & we had been using it as a Hospt & store rooms for Gov property & I was runing arround trying to save all I could & I fell throug a hatchway & allmost killed me. My men carried me out & I thought evry bone in my body was broken, but when I came to find out after 3 or 4 dayes I learned that my left knee was very badly sprained & I have not been able to straighten my leg since although I can hobble arround. we left Holly Springs on the night of the 10^th I had a horse furnished me & got along very well I boarded at Mrs Logans all the time we wer in H. S. & had such a nice time. We are not connected with any Brigad or Division but are used as Provost Guards in this place I dont think we will stay here long at least I hope not. My 2^nd Lt has returned/ from Ill^s where he has been on recruiting service since last June. Capt Helm has been ordered to Jefferson Barracks to remain there untill he is exchanged. If you did not receive my last letter you lost a heap of news I say you I mean the folks at home for I don’t remember wheather the Letter was addressed to you or Jimmie. There was a camp established here about 6 weeks ago for convalesence, & I was appointed by Col Loomis to take command of it there has been as high as 12 & 14 hundred in it at at time I had orders to break up the camp

 

            Jan 24^th            Well Minnie, Yesterday I broke up the Convalesent Camp & reported to the Regt for duty & was immediately detailed to act as Adjutant as our Adjt has gon to Cairo under orders & I suppose he will be smart enough to go home & make a visite while he is in the States & I suppose he will be gon 2 or 3 weeks. I suppose I was detailed to act as Adjt on account of my services in Col Loomis tent when I first came into the service. then I had to do all the Adjts duty & in that way I learned all the duties & I guess I know more about the buisness of the Regt than any other officer present. I have Bob Reed for Sgt Major & he is a very good one. I have a great deal more to tell you that I know would be interesting but must close for the present. I wish you would write to me oftener. Tell Jennie to write to me & send me her Photograph, as I thought the one you sent was hers untill I read your Letter. I should like to have Mothers too. If I ever have an oppornity I will send you a Photograph of Lt S. Noble King Act Adjt 26^th Ill Inft

SOURCES