Camp in the woods July 24/64

 

Dear Father Mother and Sister

                        how do you do this fine morning I am well as usual I have not receaved any letter from you this week I suppose the reason of it is because we have been moveing we have moved over the river and about three miles up the river most of our things were ferried acrost but the teams and part of the men went around by Nashville I went around and drove a team of oxen we was four days going the round we had to get up at 12 oclock every night and drive all day we crost Mill creek and Stone river had to ford both of them the rebs burnt the bridges acrost them when they left Nashville and they have not been built up yet /

 

we have got a pretty good camp where we are now we have a board barrack here in the place of tents I dont know how long we will stay in this place but I guess they will stay till my time is out I hope they will at least for I dont like to move we have not loded any logs yet since we crost the river but expect to go at it to morrow our cook got throwed from a wagon and hurt and I have been cooking in his place but he is getting better so I expect to go back into the woods to work Jim Everly is helping me but he is not verry well now all the rest of the boys that came down when I did are well but most of them home sick and they are all afraid they cant get their discharge when there time is up our bosses time is up and he / talks of going north to get more men I hope he will go for I dont like him much

 

we have not had any rain in a long spell and it is quite dry here and dusty it is verry warm here in the day time but cool nights so we can sleep verry well the when we was at stone river I suppose that I was not far from where Erwin Sheldon was burried we was 10 Miles from the battle field we are camped three miles from Old Andrew Jacksons plantation I am going over some day and see his grave / and se how his house looks there is some of general George Washingtons things there too

 

                                                                                                            write soon and oblige

                                                                                                                                    Newell

 

                        direct as before

                                                to box 220

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