Oct. 19^th/63

Camp near Chattanooga Tenn.

 

                                                                                    Dear Bother, Sister & family;—

                                                                                                                                    This Monday afternoon I am again permited to write you a few lines in answer to your kind and welcome letter of last month & also to inform you how I am getting along and the whereabouts. First; I must say that I was thankful to hear that you were all well and hope this may still find you in the same state of health. As for me I am pleased to inform you that I am well and enjoying myself as well as can be expected.

 

Friends;—I would of answered your letter sooner but could not get the time, as I know that you are aware we have had plenty to do for some time. Tomorrow it will be one mounth since the battle and it seems but a few days. Time / is fleeting fast mid all our sorrow and troubles; but we hope all will be well ere long. George; I suppose you have heard all about the hard fought battle, and the little good that we have derived from it, but we hope all will come right yet. I do not think the blame can be placed on the soldiers that fought, because they fought like deamons but were over powered by the enemy in vast numbers. The two hostile armies are still in sight of each other and both I suppose are preparing for an other attact. At least we are making preperations as fast as possible. Our boys all seem cheerful, though many of their comrads fell on the 19^th & 20^th of last month while standing up for their flag and Country. I was in the fight on the 20^th and came out without a scratch while many of my comrads fell never to rise on this earth again. How thankful / I have been that I escaped and that I am yet permited to write to you. We went in with 265 men and officers and came out with 169 effective men. We losed a great many line or Company officers but no field officers. The Lieutenant Col's horse was wounded and the Adjutant's shot dead but none of them hurt.

 

Our Col W. P. Ried was not with us as he was ordered to Nashville to take command of that post. The Major escaped also but his horse got to fractious and he had to leave him run, he got him again afterwards. I have been in several scratches but none like the last one. Indeed it seemed terable and it was terable but our brave boys stood up to all. When the enemy brought up most forces our boys stood like walls of iron before them and fought them untill they indeed were overpowered. I cannot say but we have the praise of saving the army but whether / we did I cannot say but will leave others to reveal it. If we did we want no praise for it because we did not do more then we should of done. Tis true we endured much and fought long but we were successful and drove the enemy every charge we made. Once they came up to our battery (1^st Ills) within ten or fifteen steps but we charged and drove them with a heavy loss and captured two flags but have only one at present. The other flag was lossed on the field by the man that carried it. He was wounded and then lossed it. We were sorry for it but it is all right because it could not be helped. I suppose you have read about Gen Grangers Corps and also about Gen Steadmans devision. We were commanded by Gen Steadman or were in his devision. Our brigade was commanded by Colonel John G. Mitchell a brave and gallant man. I suppose you have seen Gen Whitaker's name mentioned also. He had command of the 1^st brigade and Col Mitchell of ours (the 2^nd). They were both slightly wounded but did not leave the field. Steadman was also hurt a little but kept the field. Capt Russle of Gen Grangers staff was killed near our regiment. He was a brave and well thought of man. Our loss was heavy and some good men but their loss was I think much more in killed then ours. At least I know the men lay much thicker before our regiment than our men did with us. We held our ground all the time but on our left the line gave away and we were ordered back in the evening. I think we could of held our ground but we could not tell as well as our officers could as they knew the number of the enemy. We can now see the rebs sport about on the hills and they can see us of corse. All seems quiet only chance times we can hear the pickets skremish pretty sharp. Friends I think you hear enough about war so I will close for this time about war and give you some other, or try to interest you in some other way. /

 

            Sister you hoped while you were writing your letter I was enjoying myself by listning to the word of God or in some other way, but instead of that Sister I was marching and had marched all day. We left Bridgeport that Sabbath morning and marched all day and all, or pretty near all that night. At noon while we were eating and resting our Chaplain spoke to us. He spoke very nice and with much feeing as we were expecting a battle. He warned all to prepare for the battle and if they should fall that they would be prepared to fall with their faces zion ward. Oh! what a thought for a soldier, a cheering thought indeed. I thought of you all while he was speaking to us, and the many pleasant hours we had in the past. I thought of all I left behind and the thought came shall I meet them again. I could not answer that but thought if it was Gods will I would meet you on earth, if not on earth, I hoped to meet you where parting is unknown and where war is not heard off. I had some sweet and cheering thoughts, some that I cannot reveal. The following Sabbath we fought all day and heard nothing but the roar of artiliary and the vollies of musketry with the groans of the dying and wounded. While fighting my heart and soul was raised to God and my trust was in Him. I thought if I was one of the number to fall I would fall with a willing mind. I thought if I would fall I would fall for my Country, for freedom, and for mankind. The Colonel said boys if your courage fails look at your flag and think of your Country and you will go forward. I thought of all that and much more too. Sister; I wish I could be with you this evening to eat some of your good things, such as sweet-potatoes and aple-dumplings. I would like to spend a short time with you but it would not do for me to leave if I could. I want to stay here and share my fate with the rest of my brave comrades. I wish we could tell what is to come to pass at this place. I know you all look with an anxious eye to this place, and wish for success. I hope we may / be successful here and if we are I think the war will be pretty near over. Many deserters are coming in and some join our ranks. Some time ago they burned and distroyed a pretty large wagon train for us. I was out to see the whole affair and helped to gather up the harnass and some of the mules that were scattered about. The rebs shot all the best mules and some before they were unhitched or loose. Some of the mules were half burned up and some altogether. It looked horrible to see poor brutes treated in that way.

 

I am proud to say that I have trod Alabama and Georgia soil but the short time I spent in Georgia I spent in fighting which is pretty ugly work if you immagine. I only passed through Alabama by way of Stevenson. We have marched many miles since we left Shelbyville and over some horrible roads. The mountains we passed over were very rough and steep. Perhaps you have heard about Nicher-Jack Cave. I seen it and many other noted places. George perhaps you think I blame you for not coming to war. I do not wish you to think so because I think a man in your situation cant well leave and if he is drafted he should send a substitute before he should come unless he cant get one. I must say I think some of them young men should come and help us a little if not much. I do not blame those who have families for not coming to war but I think they should not try to discourage any one but should try to incourage all they could to come. I think all we want is patriotism and we can soon crush the rebelion. I confess things do not please me altogether but so they are and all we now can do is to press on and crush all. If Lincoln does not do right put him out and let some good and honerable man take his place. The negro is now the question and I believe it will end the war. I believe to that they must have their freedom before the war will close. I am commencing to think that slavery is a great sin and that this sin must cease before the war will close. I could say much about the negro but I have not the room nor the time. I could also say much more about the battle but perhaps it would not interest you so I will now close hoping to hear from you soon. Good bye.

 

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I wish you all well and God's care upon you. My best wishes to you and wish to be remembered to all inquiring friends and folks. No more but trust God's to God for the future. Farewell

Direct as before. Write soon.              From your true Brother

                                                                                                Henry Wetzel

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