Camp Shafer Murfreesboro

 

                                                Tenn. March 23^d/63

                                                                                    Dear Frank I just received two letters in bearing date 14 & 16 and you may be sure I read them with pleasure and you have gratified me by writing a long letter you done extremely well this time although I have no fault to find with any of your letters I am glad to hear that you are well but am afraid that little Harry will have the whooping Cough but I hope not you say that Father calls you a Sesesh now I hope he has no reason for it for I dont want you to get any such notions into your head for I am a stronger union man than when I Enlisted but sometimes am afraid that we will not be able to conquer them on account of the Copperheads at the north but rather than see an a / dishonorable settlement and you wrote that Charley Jenings had been arested I am heartily glad of it for every man that deserts leaves more for us to do I hope that they will catch every one that is mean enough to runn away and put him into the regular service for five years I have no sympathy with a man that will disert you wanted to know whether I wanted your likeness with the babys or not of course I want it I wish you could have been here to day there was a grand review by Gen. Rosecrans him self you have no idea of what an army is untill you have seen one just in our Division there is men enough to reach two miles in four ranks and the artilery is a great sight. The Rebs are a getting real saucy they attacked our pickets and kept up a pretty brisk fire for several hours and at last we were ordered out in line of Battle and our Artilery soon made them skedadle but there was one / poor fellow brought in shot right in the eye and I dont know how many more was wounded or killed you spoke about selling some of the cows I would like to have them all sold if cattle are high all but the steers and one cow but if they are not worth a fair price I want to have Father keep them untill I get home but I shant want but one team and one cow if I should get home now. now I dont want you to scrimp yourself to save money any more than if I was there I wrote in my other letter that I had sent 23 dollars more by express and I am in hopes you will get that and I shall keep doing so as often as uncle sam lets me have money now about that freak of nature I want you to understand that I am a nice young man, so never fear well I must close give my love to all of Fathers folks and Rosses also I almost envy Ross his Happiness but never mind there is better times coming. Good Bye from your Affectionate old man

                                                            Arya Bartholomew Jr

 

[margin] Wm is a picking grey backs from his shirt and writing between times /

 

well Frank I thought I had filled this sheet but come to fold it I find it is not and so I will try and fill it with some nonsence you sent a proscription for Hiram Castle his Dysentery is about stoped and all he neads is strength and if he had something nourishing but that is almost out of the question he will be at home as soon as he is able to ride you are of the same opinion of my self about my comeing home on a furlow I dont want to come without I can stay for I know that the first parting would be nothing to what it would be to leave the second time for I am a fraid you would teas me to stay but if ever I do come home on leave I will come back if I should live I hear from Tip every little while and I hear that he is well Melvin Sparks is pretty hard up he has got the Rheumatism and he is awful poor the rest of the Boys except Joel Bond are well he has got a good deal of fever I want you to tell me who is elected in town this spring I have some interest in that town yet you nead not fret about Eber running away it is not very easy to get away from here I believe he would stand in another Battle write the prices of provision it is awful high here and they say that there is a good many that are actualy in a sufering condition well it is bed time and I will Bid you good night and I will dream fo of you and of home

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