Franklin Tennessee March 16^th

 

                                                                                    My Dear Brother and family;—

                                                                                                                                    This beautiful morning I again seat myself to respon to your kind and as usual ever welcome epistle. Your kind letter of  the 24^th reached me on the 9^th of this mounth, and truly glad was I to hear from you and know that you were all enjoying good health. Friends;—I am thankful to inform you that we are both well with the exceptions of a cold that Brother M is troubled with at present. I hope when this reaches you imperfect as you may find it, it will find you and all the friends, folks and asotiates enjoying the same kind blessing.

 

Kind friends; the news that I have for you this morning may not be very interesting to you, yet I hope I can stir up something that will give you / some pleasure. As for the weather it is beautiful and has been for the last week. It has been very wet here but now it seems to be settled. The flowers are out in bloom and also the peach trees look as if glory was spread over them. The most of them are covered with flowers, that they themselves have put forth. The little blade of grass has also come forth with all its beauty, and as the zephers play over it; it seem to praise Him, who caused the bright and warm sun to shine upon it. The wheat looks pretty well but the fences do not. I do not see how the people will protect their grain as the rails are very scarce. We do not care about saving it as it belongs to perfect secesh gentleman One of these secesh Ladies told us one time that we were on picket that all the men that left Williamson County were perfect gentleman. She said that her beaux / was in Brags army and at the battle of Murfreesboro he had his arm shot off. We told her that he would not benefit her now as he was a criple. Well she allowed she would sooner have him with his both legs and arms off then a yankey, as she had no faith in them. You may think we had some fun with her. She was a strong secesh but still she thought we would gain the day. I could tell you much that hapens us while on picket and other deauty but it would take up to much time and paper so I will have to go on and give you some war news.

 

            I suppose you have heard long ere this that we had a fight here on the 5^th and 6^th and that we lost a great many men on the 6^th while on the 5^th we were successful. On the fifth we chased the rebels about four or five miles and killed and took some fifty but on the second day they cut our ranks to pieces. They did / not kill very may but they scattered them and took them prisoners. We in all lost about 2000 men but not many killed nor wounded. We (that is our regt) was not in the fight as we had no field officers. We were out but held as reserve. We heard the cannons roar and the musketry roll, but were not under fire. I thought our officers done rong for not taking us in to help our men. They were intirely overpowered by the rebels. We had not three thousand in the fight but they had from 15. to 20.000 in the battle The 9^th Pa Cavalry was intirely surrounded and they cut their way out with but little loss. Jacob Weidly got through safe. It was a hot time while they were at it. It was not long untill we got reinforcement and on the morning of the 9^th they marched out to meet them again. but as soon as they found out the force they put as hard as they could. Our men followed them as fast as they could. They went on to duck river where the enemy had just crossed and many of them had drowned. A few of our men tried it and drowned also, so they would not risk more as the river was very high at that time. We got a good many prisoners while they took none on that trip. We are not quite up to them yet but I think we will soon if we keep on taking prisoners. Yesterday I was working on the fortifications that Gen Granger has planed. Granger is in command here at present. I think if he would of been here the time of the battle we would of gained the victory. On Saturday we had a grand review of the troops by Gen Granger. We had to black our boots and brighten up our buckels, straps and also our faces. We looked fine if I must say it myself. I wish you could of been here to see us. They by all accounts intend to give furloughs after while. At present I suppose they are afraid as the enemy is still pretty close. They think it would weaken the force to much. A great many of the troops have gone back to Murfreesboro, again to join the old army. Well I believe I have given you pretty near all the news that I have this morning. Brother M is still guarding the niggers on the fortifications. Buly for him I do not know wether he will write some or not but I will ask him to write soon if I get to see him. This is the second letter that I wrote since the long one. I hope you will get this one and I hope you have the other one. No more at present but ever your Brother Henry Wetzel. Farewell.

 

[margins]

 

I told Mother to do with the money that I sent what she pleased. If you need any you just get as much as you want and all will be right. Perhaps you would take it if Brothers Joseph and George do not need it. I do not care what they do with it. I think I have about $150. at home now. If you please tell her to do with it just what she thinks best as I do not know how things are going there. I know all will be right at all events.

 

I love to read a kind sisters letter and I am willing to answer them if they just write. Sister you wished me to tell you which was the best letter of your two. Well sister it would not do for me to express my opinion on that subject as they were both good.

 

I want you to write often if I should not answer all as we are on deauty sometimes and have not time to write.

 

Sister you stated that if the war was over you would board me a whole week. Well if I get home I suppose you will have to board me as I intend to sponge a few weeks of off my friends. I will have to close. So Good bye.

 

I think you will be puzzled to find all so I will not make you hunt more. May God bless and protect us all is my sincere prayer.

 

I have no stamp to put on.

 

[overwritten]

 

I will send you a blossom.

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