Camp near Tyner's Station Tenn.

Feb 21^st 1864

 

                                                                        My Dear Brother, Sister and family;—

                                                                                                                                    I am again seated to try to answer your long looked for letter. It came to hand the other evening and found me as you hoped it would well and hearty. I was truly glad to hear from you and also the rest of the folks in the neighborhood. Your letter contained joyful news and with it sad and doleful news also. I was glad that you were still blessed with health and in fact the most of our relations, but sorry to hear that sickness and death, has and is still causing grief in the immediate vacinety. Old Mother Brindle has suffered very much for many years, and now she has gone we trust to that bright and spirit world where troubles and sufferings are no more, and where peace and happiness ever reigns. / I have often thought how true these words are. The old must die and the young may die. We can see that they have been visited by death in your letter, though young and with many enjoyments surrounding them. Mr. J. Leshers wife was just commencing to enjoy herself, when death closed her eyes, and paled her once rosy cheeks. Ah! where is she now; she now sleeps in that narrow grave, where sooner or later all of us must go.

 

Are we prepared to die,

            If death should meet us here,

Or will we ever sign

            To think, that death is near.

 

No, we should never weep,

            For us to die is gain,

For death it is a blessed sleep,

            In Abrahams bosom lain.

 

These verses are my own composure and I feel that we should examine them, and then see whether we are prepared to die or not. /

 

            Indeed, I was glad to hear that I have got to be Uncle again, and of such a buster as you called him. I was sorry to hear that he was unwell, but hope he is all right by this time. I told Sister Lib to tell you that I would bring him a suit if you would call him Henry, and I hope she has told you. Just call him H—and if ever I am permited to get home I shall do as I say. Tis true Henry's are all pretty bad boys but it cannot be helped. I was glad to hear that sister Pheobe was well and that the little girls had got rid of their cold. You must be pretty stout also this winter, as I hear you have a singing at the school-house. I wish I was there to go with you some evening. I think I could spend one evening with my old Cumberland friends tolerably well. (Espetially with the gals.)

 

Sister, your few lines were very welcome and I wished you would of written more. You need not fear that you will weary my / patience in the least as soldiers have considerable time when they are in camp and as comfortably fixed as we are. Sister I do not wish you to trouble yourself about me at all as I am cared for. We, it is true seen some pretty rough times, but we stood the storm and chased the rebs, and now we have plenty to eat. We care nothing for the past, but the future is yet to come, and we trust we will be cared for and protected as well as in the past. You wish to know whether furloughs are not granted in this army. Yes, lately. Gen. Grant isued and order that there should be furloughs granted, but none have gone home out of our Company yet. As long as I am well and you folks are all well I care nothing about going home, but if anything should take place I would be apt to come if there was any chance. The boys at present are all well and hearty in our Company and mostly all the troops. Pretty much all the troops have gone to Knoxville as there is a battle expected there. I do not know whether we will be taken up or not, but suppose so if we are needed. We have moved our camp again. We were stationed at Rossville and now we are about 10 miles from Chattanooga on the rail-road leading to Knoxville. A great many rebs came into our lines when we were at Rossville Georgia, and some do here but not so many. I hope they are still coming in and will come untill they are all in and then we can look for peace.

 

            I am pleased with the call that the President made and I hope you will not fail to fill the quota if not by volunteering, in some other way. I think with their help we will be permited to eat christmas gifts with you next year if health and life permits. Their ranks are certainly beginning to be demoralized with the many desertions that there are. /

 

            A little more. As for the weather it has been beautiful, but the last few days have been rough and cold. However the sun has come out to-day and now the song of the many little birds are mingling, and all seems gay and happy. If the weather keeps as warm a few days as it is to-day the peach blosoms will be out. The little blade of grass is commencing to peep from the side hill hill side, and every thing looks like spring. We have had but little snow so far this winter and look for little this winter. This forenoon I was to hear a sermon preached and there is preaching this afternoon, but I suppose I will leave my tent mate go and I will write. I was to prayer meeting last evening and several times through the week. I think we will have meetings this week also. Our chaplain is still at Chattanooga but the Chaplain that preaches belongs to the 113^th Ohio regiment. We have the privilage to go to hear him, when we wish. / Our brigade is all that is here and General Beatty has resigned and gone home. We were sorry to loose him, but home matters called him from us. He was a brave and noble leader and was down on all those who would use the card. He had several tied up to trees for playing cards and made some do other duty. We liked him also for his kind treatment towards us.

 

Our colonel is also at home but we expect him up soon. I wish he was here now. The Adjutant was at home and got himself a wife but he is now with us. He is a tolerable good soldier also. The old Major is with us and he is all right. We like him for his bravery and also for his kindness.

 

Well, as you see my pen is getting very bad and I think it best to close. I wish you all health and happiness and trust the protecting arm of a kind Father will shield and protect me and the blessing of health crown us all. Farewell

                                                                                                From your true Brother

Please write soon and                                                                         Henry Wetzel

direct 121^st reg^t, O. V. I.

            Company B.

            Via Chattanooga Tenn.

My best

wishes to

you and

all inquiring

friends and

asotiates.         No more this time but hope to

                        hear from you soon.

 

Good bye to all of you.

 

[top front margin, upside down]

 

Please send us some good music if you have any. We love to spend our hours in singing. Send us notes if possible, and we shall thank you for them.

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