April 12^th 1863

Camp near Franklin Tenn.

                                                                                                My Dear Brother, Sister & family;—I this beautiful Sabbath morning again assume a seat which soldiers all must, or generally set on to write to there dear and kind friends, which is the knapsack. Your kind and as usual ever welcome letter reached me the other day and also the papers that you I hope kindly sent me. I not only read them but all the boys in my or our tent. The letter you and Sister wrote to me also pleased me, though I think you get better letters from the army then those that I write. Well, I have some war news to tell you to-day again. We had another small fight here day before yesterday which has been the third attact since we are here. We this time were prepared to meet them and they were met. The fort / that we have been working at is pretty well completed and two large seige guns planted in it with many smaller ones. The rebels come in on the pickets on Tuesday but they were repulsed by our men; on Wednesday we were put on the same post and we thought shure we would have a brush but we were lucky as they did not come. The next day the 98^th releaved us and they were not attacted but the 40^th releaved them and they were not on the post untill the enemy rushed in on them in great numbers. They fell back but kept up skremishing very heavy and you may think it was not long untill we were out in line of battle. The cavalry were sent out and then we heard the music in earnest yet not so heavy as at Perryville. They soon sent out several infantry regiments and opened out with the seige guns, / which soon silenced them and their batteries. I have heard very little about how many we loosed or them but they themselves said that they had about 300 killed without the wounded. We took some prisoners and three pieces of artiliary. They had five or six pieces more but they could not hold them so they spiked them and cut the wheels down and left them go. The rebels were pretty strong; yet they were beat out the third time. The regiment that was on picket (which was the 40^th Ohio) had but 14 missing. They had good luck I assure you. Our loss I am sirtain is not as heavy as that of the enemy. I suppose you have heard it through the papers long before you read this; so I suppose I will close the subject and give you some personal news.

Brother & Sister;—I am very well but sorry to say that Brother Moses is not very well. / His neck has got sore again, and I want him to go home to Mother. I think he can get his discharge if he tries and we all advise him to take it if he can get one. I hardly know how I would get along but I hope pretty well. I have some friends in our company but no enemies to my knowledge. We get along like Brothers here.

 

Good for us; To-morrow we are to get some green backs they tell us. We will get two mounths pay I think, and then there will be almost two more coming to us. The most of the troops have been payed off at this place.

 

This day is most beautiful; every thing looks bright and joyful. Good and best of all the news are now that we captured old Van Doren himself. He has three stars on his shoulder and did not want to tell his name. They say it is the old General himself. I hope it is; but I have not yet seen him. I want to see him if I can.

 

I wish you were here to see the country and all the boys and guns that are here. It is a perfect show to see them all out. The trees are getting green and the little flower is also fast approaching. I will send you a few again and I wish you to keep them as Tennessee flowers. I wish I could of been at the examination to heare and see the performance. I know I could of enjoyed myself. Brother George you thought that I would think it took you a long time to write your letter. I do not know if it did; at least it was received with a welcome heart and read with much care. I love to read letters and also write them if I have time but this one was written in a hurry and with a bad pen as you will see when you get this and try to read it.

 

I hope you will be able to correct all the mistakes and read all of it. I confess it is put up in a scribled manner and you asked me to excuse your last and I did so I hope you will return the same compliment

 

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Miss Mary's love was excepted and mine in return, also to you all and all inquiring friends, folks and asotiates. Good bye.

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