#18

                                                                                                Tennessee

                                                                                                            March 27^th 1865

 

Dear Sister

                        When our Reg left Knoxville I thought we wer going out on a raid tharefore I did not take any writen paper with me it was by chance I got a hold of this if I had not got it I could not write this letter we are incamped about 20 miles from Straw burry Plaines in the woods by the side of the Tenn & Vir railroad it is now the US Millitery road it runs from Louisville Ky to Richmond Vir it has not been used since the war commenced but it is in runing order ar about fifty miles South of Straw berry Plaines and we move as fast as they get it done along I think they will put it in runing trim as far South as they can we have lazey times now I suppose we will have a little fighting to do when we get up the railroad as far as Bristol Tenn we tore up the saim road last winter when we went / to the Salt Works in Virginia but the rebels have it fixt by this time thare is quite a little army hear and we will crall up the railroad until we get to Grants army we will go up on the rebels on one side and Grant in frunt and Shurman will croud in on the other side but Nevertheless some of us will get whiped but we will have them in the Last the 3^rd Mich Infantry is hear and the 8^th 9^th 10^th & 11^th Mich Regs of Cavalry thare is some more Mich troops hear but I do not know what Reg’s

 

Well Sister I do not know of any more to write this time but let me tell you that I got a letter from Father and one from you this morning I am very glad to hear that you are all well at home tell Father I will write to him as soon as I can tell Fread he better not inlist if he don’t want his head cut of a boy that surves in the ranks of a company is used no better than a dog it is my good luck not to be in them if I have any thing / to do with a lot of men or boys I asure you they are well used if I do say it we have some Non Comishend Officers in our company that try to kick men around as an Old Country man would to a young America printice but some of them have their hands full. Well Sister I must stop writen and water my horse we have to go a mile or mor for water I hope you will excuse this very poor writen I have a very unhandy place to write may this find you as well as it leaves me. Give my love to home and respects to all inquiren friends good by from

your affectionate        Brother

                                                WJB

 

            (Address)

            Knoxville

                        Tennessee

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