September the 20^th 1863

 

                                                                                                                        Dear Sarah

I seat my self this beautiful Sabath morning to rite you afew lines hoping they will finde you and our little girl well as I am hapy to say that I am well. O Sarah what would I give to be at home this morning to go to meeting with you the Church bells are ringing now and it makes me feald very solem to think over the past their has ben thousands of pore fellows lade beneeth the sod within the last year that will never engoy the society of their friends hear on earth. but I hope they are engoying unbounded bliss at Gods rite hand whare sicness sorow pain and dith are felt and feard no more

 

I am sory to say that one more of our little squad is dead. isac Martz is dead. he died at Nashville but I havent ben able to lurn the particulars of his death. We left him at murfreesboro when we left their 3 months ago he was sick but nobody thought their was mutch the matter with him, but time has proved differant time is the best fortune teller in the world

 

            The rest of the Boys are well and I do hope that we will all be sparde to return home                                                                                                             turn over /

 

            Well I will now tell you that we are still at Chattanooga our brigade is no longer in Woods Devision their is a mounted brigade put in our place, so Brigadier General Wagoner has charge of this town for the preasant his brigade is composed of the 57 I^nd 40 I^nd 15 I^nd and the 97 Ohio Regiments and the 10^th I^nd Battery. I will now tell you how to direct your letters untill further orders. I will rite it on another peace of paper

 

their was some hevy fiting in frunt yesterday but the rebs got the wors of it I would not be supprised if this would be the bloddiest battle that ever was fought for both Armys are reinforcing hevly I am in hopes that this will be the last Battle. but it is of no use for me to be riting about it for you will se all about it by the papers

 

            I beleave I have rote all I can think of at this time so I will close for this time I havent got any letter from you since I rote last sunday the last I got was mailed at Salem but I expect to get one in a day or two. Ma God speed the day when we can talk to each other in the place of riting is my Prayer but I will close by saying I still hope to remain your loving and true husband Wm Forder to Sarah A Forder and Child, and all the Friends rite soon

 

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I havent got that letter from your Pap yet and it is time I was getting one from Mother unless they have turned me of as one of the lost sheep of Iseral but I guess they will all rite when the sign gets rite

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