Camp at Cowan Tenn.

Wednesday Oct 21^st 1863

 

            Dear Mother

                        It is raining and I have no more agreeable way of passing the time than by writing you a letter so here goes. Our mail has not come from Washington yet and so of course I have not heard from you since we came here. We expect a mail every day, but direct your next letter in this way viz Evelyn E. Moulthrop Co B 20^th Reg^mt Conn Vol 12^th Army Corps via Nashville Tenn, and I think it will come right along, and by the way you may put in 3 or 4 dollars if you please for I dont know whether we shall get our pay here as regular as we did in Va. Father is well and I believe he wrote you a day or two ago. Charley is about well and has been detailed as Safe guard for some citizen around here somewhere and it will be a good thing for him as he will have nothing to do and a house to sleep in &c. We have first rate quarters where we are now and I am feeling well and in good spirits. I think it is a good deal healthyer here than in Va. it seems to suit me better at any rate. Mr Frisbie had a meeting last evening in our Company Mr Corwin was here and it seemed / quite like a meeting at home. the Ambulance Men are at Dechard 3 miles above here which is the Head Quarters of the Division & Brigade, so I have not seen Studly or John in a week or two. I hear that the Congregational Church in Ansonia is burned but do not know how it got afire, it will be quite a loss to the society but I suppose they will rebuild immediately. I hear that Gen Meade has fallen back to Washington or near to it, and that Lee is close to him and that there was some fighting while he was falling back, but I guess Meade can hold the position he is in now. We get our news through Louisville & Nashville papers and I suppose they are a week or two behind the times. I think we got out of a scrape by being down here for from the position we had on the Rapidan I think we our Corps should have been in the rear and had to done some fighting. at least I am satisfied this time. We dont hear much from the front (Chatanooga) and I guess there is not much going on at present. Soldiers in the Army of the Cumberland think there is no one as good as Gen Rosencrans. He has done well so far and I hope he will meet with no reverses now, and I hope Meade will whip Lee again for there must be something done soon or wait / till next spring. How does the President's Proclamation calling for 300 000 more volunteers suit the people of Connecticut? I suppose there will be a dreadful trembling again. and I presume they will have to draft them unless they offer large bounties, and I guess Neale & such fellows will conclude by & by that this war is a big thing. I dont see but what the Army of the Potomac is about where it was 2 years ago. things do not look quite so bright as they did last July & August but still the war may not last longer for that. we cannot tell. We have about 22 months longer to stay but the time passes rapidly, and with good health and plenty to eat it will not be so very long. I should like to have the war close but still I am not sorry I enlisted when I did for I think I should have had to be a Soldier before this Rebellion is crushed. I hope this will find you well and in excellent spirits with plenty of food & fuel & reading matter to pass the winter with for it will soon be here. Next month will be Thanksgiving if I remember rightly and I want you should have a baked chicken with plenty of stuffing a little jammed potatoe & turnip and perhaps a piece of spare rib with a few mince & pumpkin pie and a baked Indian pudding and then eat all you can for me. / I can imagine how it tastes if Antoinette is with you she can eat what you cant, and if I could be there I think I could make you both wonder where I stowed away so much. I have lived firstrate since we have been here for I have bought potatoes and some flour once and I can make bully good pan cakes by using a little soaked hard tack to lighten them. I am not sure but I can cook as good a meal as you (most as good) and I guess quite as good as Antoinette. I am sitting in an awkward position to write good and I guess you will have some trouble making it out, but it will last the longer, it is a large sheet of paper but when I feel like writing I can fill one of these most as easy as a small sheet. You must give my love to all inquireing friends and tell Mrs Ardelia Upson that she has not answered my letter yet, at least I have rec^d none from her. I shall try & write Samuel soon. tell John Moulthrop not to get discouraged but keep a stiff upper lip. You had better let him get you wood enough for all winter if he gets any and if you or Antoinette try to use an ax be very careful for they are not made for women to use. With much Love I Remain as Ever Your affectionate Son

Evelyn E Moulthrop

 

P. S. a few postage stamps

            if you please

S. M. Moulthrop

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