Ooltawah Tenn

Feb 22^ond 1864

 

Dear wife this morning I will again write our mail came last night the first for 5 days again but brout nothing for me but that wont stop my writeing well I am well but a light cold we have had cold disagreeable weather for 8 or 10 days I must stop and get rations the cry is sowbelly all over camp we have been short of provisions no meat for 3 days just coffee and hardtack but they have just come in with some meat now we are supplyed for 3 days again I was lucky by haveing some money I bought a poan for 50 cts that put my mess through but many had nothing to eat for 24 hours there was a noisy set it was nothing / but hardtack was the nois well I expect we will leave here soon perhaps tommorrow not this day for one regiment is out scouting I must tell you what the 38^th Ill of our Brigade done they with a detachment of the 4^th Michigan Cavelry started out the other night at 10 they took a Rebel picket poast of 12 men and a Lieutenant and picked up some soldiers that was home on furlow one had a furlow for 40 days he had enjoyed but 3 of them so he may spend the other 37 with the yanks Prisoners or deserters still come in every day yesterday the rebs cavelry made a dash on Tyner Station 6 miles from here they had to dash back mity sudden that is where we campt 2 days this road is strongly guarded / I will stop now perhaps a mail will come tonight and bring me a letter from mine Frow

 

Afternoon. well time brings new things we have just got 2 months pay our clothing was not settled the Paymaster said he had not time as we were expected to be called out every minute so all that was off my wages this time is my transportation bill of 3.80 so I shall send some to you after I pay the 10 Dollars I borrowed that shirt I got $3.50 for I dont kno how to send yet if no other way I will send in a letter 5 at a time I will send a 10ct bill this time to begin it is new to me perhaps you have them there I will wait a few days perhaps there will be some way to send it safe I now close and bid you Goodby again

                                                                        Charles Morfoot

 

to E M Direct VIA Chattanooga

                        as before /

 

P.S       a good joke on our chaplain he went to the Doctor yesterday to be examined he said he had such breaking out his blood was bad he opened his shirt to sho the Doctor lo and behold there was 4 or 5 big greybacks walding around the Doctor told him that was his bad blood So greybacks like preachers as well as soldiers especily when their blood is bad

 

Since I wrote the above another mail came and 2 letters for me one from you and one from Alfred Harris this is the first I knew that Jef was at Denison I suppose the horses are poor if he gets here he will see worse ones now I will give you a report for all it is worth that is that our regiment is to go home and get our own horses to be mounted Infantry the furlow to be 30 days from Columbus I think it is all wind if it should happen I could use queen but if you can sell her I guess it would be best now that supper I saw a account in the Journal that it was to come off go and eat for me you are as good as any soldiers wife in town all I have to say for Bucyrus if God would rain fire and brimstone on the cursed Coperheads of that town I say amen

SOURCES