Dec 11^th

Camp near the railroad

12 miles north of Gallatin.

 

Affectionate Brother

                        I now take my seat to write you a few lines hopeing that they may find you all well and running about. We are out here by ourselves our Brigade was divided up and placed along the railroad at different points to guard it. We came here on thursday and had a pretty hard march of it. we started at one oclock and our new Colonel got us through we had 12 miles to march and got here / by dark. I did not march only about 6 miles untill i give out and got into the wagon and the other boys were so tired that they made a little coffee and just laid their tents down on the ground and laid on them instead of putting them up and sleeping in them. the boys was not sorry because they had to leave Gallatin for they were building a fort there and there was three Regiments there so they took it turn about one would work one day and another that night and the other the next day so on untill / untill they left. you might know the boys was pretty tired of it. Sam Kersey got a letter from ben yesterday he said that he was going home before he came to the Regiment and if he does you will have a chance to send the things I wanted with him. and if you have any thing good to eat that you can box up and send along without too much trouble you can send it for the other boys get caned fruit and it looks to good not to have anything myself. but I dont want you to go to much expence to send it. We expect to stay here / all winter and guard this point. Our Regiment has been lettered off and our company is letter A. And we have been changed from General Dumonts division to General Payne Division. After this when you direct your letters direct to.

 

79^th O.V.I. Company

A 79^th Reg. OVI

Gen Wards Brigade

General Paynes Division

 

No more at present

but remain your affectionate

Brother.

            W^m H Bone

to A L Bone

 

Write soon

My health is improveing rapidly.

SOURCES