April the 10^th 1864

Chattanooga Tenn

 

Dear Sarah I seat myself this eavning to rite a few lines to you hoping they will finde you and our little Girl & all the rest of the folks well as I am happy to say that I am well

 

            I will now tell you that we left Nashville on the firs day of this month and got hear yesterday we brought threw 280 Horses we was jus 9 days on the road it was rany and disagreeable the most of the way. it is 152 milds by railroad but it is some farther by the wagon road. We turned all the horses over to the / Post quarter master I dont know weather we will get any of them or not. our battery was ordered to go into a fourt hear but the order is countermanded now and we dont know what will be done with us now

 

When we got hear yesterday their was 7 letters and a shirt hear for me I am very mutch a bliged to you for the shirt it very nice and it fites me to a tyt

 

3 of the letters was from you one was dated the 13^th and one the 20^th and the last one the 24^th of March, so I think I will get a nother one be fore long one of the letters was from Uncle billey and one from Solomon Naugle / and one from James Hubbard and one from Mother

 

I will make the rings as soon as I can, and the rings you have given away you done just rite it shows that you are not selfish

 

It makes me feald bad to hear you say you finegrs are pore for I am a fraid you are not as stout and well as you should be Now I hope you are not trubling yourself to deth about me for I am dooing well anuf. If I only knew that you and our little Girl was well and happy I could be satesfide

 

            if we dont leave hear before we get paid I will send you my Potograph /

 

I am very sory to hear that your Pap has got a soar hand for I know he has a hard time to get along to ceep well I hope the time will soon come when I can return home to releave him of a part of his burthen

 

their is more sicness in the Company now than ever I saw the trip to Nashvill was a hard trip for the boys Pery Cuningham is left at Nashvill sick Acy Dittymore is inlisted in the battery he lived in darlington he says queen is as fat as a hog and as spry as a cat

 

Well I will have to come to a close for this time still hoping to remain your loving and true husband and Father

Wm Forder to Sarah & Malisa

Forder

 

rite as often as you can

God bles you is my Prayer

SOURCES