Scorchey Valley Tennessee

August 26^th 1863

 

           Dear Sister

I seat my self to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope those few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing Well I received a letter from you a bout 1 week a go But we started to march the next day and I had not time to answer it we are in a valley between two mountains or Critendens Corps is and 27 miles from Chatanooga But our Company is detailed for couriers to carry dispatches and my post that I belong to is four miles out on the mountain and seven miles from here and I just came down this morning with a dispatch our Company is posted every 6 7 and 8 miles apart for 30 miles there is 6 of us on my post and if the Rebels was to attack us we would have to fight as long as we have amunition and / then run or surrender our selves prisoners and I dont think I would surrender until I was hurt unless they was to catch me well Martha we are expecting a big battle at Chatanooga every day and our men has shelled the town some little I will have to quit for I am so nervous I can hardly write for when we get a dispatch to carry we have to go in a fast trot or in a gallop I have not seen the rest of our Regt for a bout 8 weeks Now I will have to quit write soon and let me know whether you are married yet or not so good bye for the present

                        Marion Pumphrey

 

To Martha Pumphrey

 

I want you to let me know what Jane patterson has wrote to you if is a bout me and if it is any thing bad I want to know it and if it / is any thing good a bout me there is no harm in letting me know it But if it is anything I had told you of before I left home it is all right and I want you to let me know what is for I write to Jane and and if she is making light of me a bout it I want to know it and then she will hear no more from me and I will wait and not write any more to her until you let me know what it is for I dont want to write to any one and have them make fun of it me for it while I am in the army for I have the same pride and ambition and are just as Independent as I was the day I left home and you know I wouldent have any thing to do with any one then if they dident suit me and I am the same way to day and if she has ben funing with me and making a fool of me all this time she can go to the devil then so write soon       Marion Pumphrey

            Martha Pumphrey

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