Hd. Qrs. 1st Div. Cav. Corps
Seven miles from
Knoxville on the Morris-
town road Sunday Dec 6. 1863.
Dear Parents
After eighteen days siege the rebel Longstreet & his 25 000 men left us & we our Div. moved out after them yesterday A.M. We do not expect to press the enemy for our force is not sufficient.
As soon as possible I shall write you a long letter giving an account of our fights & siege. Genl Sanders was killed in a charge or wounded severely & died the next day. My horse was shot in the head. The bullets seemed to come in sheets. /
Col. Wolford commands the Div. & the Staff of Genl. Sanders remain with the Col.
Genl. Shackelford our Corps commander is with us.
The enemy had over double the men we had.
We got down to pretty close rations but Genl Sumners advance coming made the rebs leave.
Genl Burnside is to be relieved by Genl. Foster of N.C.
Genl. B— told me that when the telegraph line was open again (this at the time we lost the heroic Sanders) that he would telegraph to Washington to have my appointment put through. You see AAG's are assigned to Brigades Divisions &c.
I have sent you several letters by couriers—hope they reached you. /
Write me at Knoxville.
I cant tell what we will do now but hope the army will move into Va. & attack Lee's rear. It is not probable.
How I would like to see you Tell Mother I have often thought of her well filled larder lately.
Love to you all—my dear parents, sister & brother.
Your son
Watson
[overleaf]
Knoxville
Dec. 6/63