Soldiers home Chattanooga Tenn

May the 16^th 1864

 

Dear Father after a short absence I take up my pen to let you know my safe arrival this far my health is as good as I could expect but I have saw a pretty rough time comeing through last night is the first sleep I have had since I left St louis run all night 3 nights I learn that they are fighting all the time at the front last night there were a lot of our wounded returned here they say there were heavy fighting day before yestarday & yestarday they say our loss was heavy & that the rebs had a strong position it isent known how the battle will end but it is generally believed that it will end all right it is the common talk that we have the rebs partially surrounded our army is 12 miles beyond dalton the rebs have greatly the advantage of us there. /

 

I havent heard from my command yet only that it is at the front as soon as I can get a permit I am going to it I have reported to the provost martial & I will have to wait his own time to send me there are now allowed to go to the front only those that have arms so it ma be some time before I can get arms I have to wait now for orders probably I can get off this evening I feel like I had been gone from home a good while & was getting almost home a gain I enjoyed my visit to your house first rate but when the time come for me to return I was loft to leave so many kind friends & relatives but I couldent be reconsiled to stay any longer I am going to be an honerable Soldier if I die by it. it was a hard thing for me to tell you all good bie & I have been lonesome / ever since but I feel as if I was doing my duty I havent saw a man that I knew since I left Rolla but I fell in company at louisville with some very good soldiers there are about six hundred of us here waiting to be sent to our regtments we belong all through the army of the Cumberland my regment is 40 or 50 miles from here the cars runs now beyond dalton. this place looks very natural Look out mountain looks as high as ever Missionary ridge looks as rugged as ever but it isent spotted with rebel tents as it once was it looks like summer here the trees are in full leaf vegetation looks beautiful we have an imence army at the front I think it wont be long till you will hear deseesure news from this quarter so no more as I think I am about to get off Josiah Bradford /

 

May the 16^th 1 oclock PM

they called us all out in line this morning & those that had arms they sent to the front & the balance of us they sent to convalesent camp So I dont know when I will get to my regment but I have learned to take every thing easy if I never get back I believe my health is improaveing I feel better than when I left rolla I bought some diarhea syrrup in St louis that was just the thing So after all well wishes & all due respect to all enquireing friends & relatives I will close hoping to write a gain soon no more but as ever your affectionate son

                                                                                                Josiah Bradford

 

32 Mo Vol infantry

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