Army of the Cumberland

                                                                                                Chattanooga Tennessee

                        Saturday Night.                                                           Dec^r 5^th 1863.

 

My Dear Wife,

                                    this beautiful moonlight night finds me seated to comply with your much interesting letter of the 23^rd. I was glad to learn of your good health, and that you was still able to hoo your own sow. yet, I am able to be up and moove around a little yet. I was over to the Reg^t today to see some of our boyes. my wond is not so sore any moore as it was but gives me some trouble yet of nights during my rests but I am getting along as good as can be Expected. it is no Serious wond but a pretty sore flesh wond, for it is threw the mustle. I am well and harty otherwais and able for my hard [?]. the Regt after they followed the rebs for two days seen them on the other side of Ringgold Georgia. they returned then to their respective Camps. I was over the next day to see them and you never saw a glader set of boys than thay was to get back to their Old Camps. they wouldant of bin much glader to of got to come home than thay was to get to their/ Old Dog tents. it was verry cold and disagreeable the time thay was out I tell you. there was ice stayed frose all day and the Sun Shining to but their was a verry cold wind blowing all the time which made it verry unpleasant for the boys the hole time thay was out. yes our Regt has a verry high prase in this Divission on their Reconorsance they made on the rebs. they took 3 verry heavy brass Canon and one cashion and one stand of Rebel Collors and our Company took the collors to and helped take the battery and some 30 prisoners that was took with the Battery. they took those all after night to about 10 Oclock they fiered on our boys but our boys poured a volly in to them which set them to flight in a hurry. they sed they boys came back last Sunday both tiered and hungary but when they reached camp they hadant any rations but had a little Red Eye which revived their druping spirits for them considerably which they then thowed out by their little fier plases they had in their little pup tents and retiered to their Rischuse Couches for the night. in they morning they orders was to let the boys sleep as much as they choose and some got up in the morning and some made up for loss time sure enuff/ didant get up till plum noon—but every thing is now clear of Rebels in our front for 60 miles or more. I tell you this was a back brakener to the Sutheran Confederacy Sure as Shiuten. we captured a grate many prisoners and lots of their artilery and some wagons. Hooker and Shermans forse is after them yet, the 14 Army Corps got to stay here, and guard the palase. I guess Old Bragg has got anuff fight now to do him all winter. he is flying for winter quarters now at Atlanta Georgia. I think he will be glad to stay their too if our men dont cout him out of that too. I am in the hospittal now and am well cared for. I think I will get along fine now you “spoke of me reinlisting,” Oh no not I reinlist, not till I come home a while any how. I think I will have anuff Soldiering agin I come home dont you. yes I no you think so. well you wanted to know weather I was teamster didant you. no I am not or wouldant be eather I was onley with the teams that time to help the driver as the roads was so awfle bad at them times. I still get 13 dollars per month and no more. teamsters here onley get the same as we do. well my Dear Wife. I am Sorry you ar so troubled with/ that mean toothech yet. I would try and have it pooled if I was you I believe—well we ar on half rations now. we will have plenty I suppose before long there is 10 thousant men I hurd today, working on this railroad I think in a week or so moore the cars will be running in here then we will get plenty of every thing again. you spoke of the 69^th being Discharged the first of June. well it well iff they allow us 4 months time for our furloughs which there is some talk of them diewing so but I am afraid it is to good anews to be true. we heard here Old Morgan was out I bet the man let him out got a pile of money the rascals they ar. well my dear wife I must close for my candol is running ashore, and my fingners ar cold any how that I cannot hold the pen any moore So I must close as I have give you all the perticolers I no of and have already wrote you quite an Extensive letter. well I will now Close by subscribeing my self for ever

                                                                        your true and,

P.S.—Pleas answer soon                                            Affectionate Husband

                        a kiss for you in reply                                     Emanuel Cave.

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