November the 16^th 1863

 

            Dear Sarah I seat my self this beautiful Sabath morning to rite a few lines to you hoping they will finde you and our little girl and all the rest of the folks well as I am happy to say that I am still engoying good helth I havent heard any thing from you since I rote last but we have got paid and I have sent 40 Dollars the same as I sent the other 40 I sent it in your Paps name it will be expressed from Indianapolis

 

I want you to rite as soon as you get it and let me / know if you get it all rite, and tell me how mutch the expressage was

 

We got 52 dollars we are paid up to the first of this month

 

We are still leying in our old position the rebs still hold lookout mountain they shoot at us more or less evry day but they havent hurt any body yet they are to high a bove us they cant shoot with any surtainty

 

they are desurting as fast as they can their was a hundred come in threw our lines one day this last weak in one gang they said they was nearly starved they said they was getting 2 ears / of corn to do them 2 days so you may know they ar prety hard up for grub

 

this is a beautiful Sabath morning and o how glad I should be if I was at home to spend the day with you may God hasten the time when we can engoy each others society but I havent mutch hopes of getting home untill our time is out but thank God we are the last year the 7^th of this month seat us on the third releaf the boys celebrated the eav of the 6^th by fiddling and dansing and having a good time if we get our furlow time taken of the end / of this year we will be at home in 8 or 9 months and if we all ceep well that will soon pass away

 

dont direct your letters to Woods Devision any more for we are not in his devision any more direct your letters to William Forder

                                                Wagoners Brigade

                                                            10^th Ind Battery

                                                                        Cap Naylor

                                                            Chattanooga Tenn

 

I will insur them to come all rite if they ar directed in this way

 

I will close for this time still hope to remain your loving husband William Forder

to Sarah A Forder

 

give my respect to all the friends

may God bless you and preserve you from all harm is my prayer

SOURCES