Tazewell Tenn Jan.y 13.1863.

 

Dear wife & boy,

                                    I have this evening received 6 letters the first for at least 4 to 5 weeks & I guess longer. One from you one from Rev A. R. Clark & one from Susan the balance from other friends connected with my business having yours dated 23. Dec & others later date. You are well & Arthur. I am very happy to hear it. Susan is well & Martin better. I am very happy to hear it. Mr Clark laments the inefficiency of chaplains & Surgeons. I am very happy to hear it. But Mister Clark may not rank the two together as far short as singers come of what they should be as contemptible in morals as many are. they as a class are almost infinitely removed from chaplains I expect in no relations of life before have I met men so far below their legitimate calling as are surgeo chaplains 19 in 20. They are the meanest most miserably ignorant & naked men to be found in the army. almost invariably failing to summon respect. So I shall write brother Clark.

 

[?] we are here yet. I presume we remain at least our time to next month in this [?] There are about ten thousand troops in this place Probably we go into Virginia with prety good chance for a decent fight so think leading officers To morrow I start Dr Campbell to Camp Nelson Ky. with convalescents of our Regt We will not return but await there the return of reg. L. Campbell is well enough but I can get along well enough too without him & his wife too Arthur wonder what you got christmas? perhaps you have written & it has not reached me. Will make this all right when I get back— /

 

A surgeon of Ohio reg’t lies on my floor to night by whom I send this to Camp Nelson north Camp Nelson you know is within 6 miles of Nickolesville at railroad. Arthur I have got you another horse. Old bill is about played out. Guess I’ll get him home again, but wouldnt try if it was not him. Am well. Actual literal unconditional starvation prevails among all the troops & some have died from nothing else. I have no doubt unless ordered north within 3 days regiments will mutiny & go home such are threats to day & General Wilcox commanding has come up this evening & something will be done. Ten thousand men if not allowed to push into tenessee where there is forage will push north. I live well enough have all the fat I want to carry tho less than usual by 30 lbs. By time you get this perhaps youd best not write more for I might not be here to receive & then they would go to “Huntington Indianna” & the “visionary part” might not get “burned” Oh Prudery! how fructifying thou art!

 

                                    All right Arthur—Kiss Mama twice for you & father.

Old lion dead as is my curse I mourned our serious loss—

But yesterday as luck was in I got a splendid “hoss”

With size so large & form so fine & color black as g’et

I tell you Arthur “All right” they cant beat us yet—

                                                                        Papa

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