Cowan Tenn Apr 14^th 1864

 

Dear Sister

          So you have got fairly settled in Plainville. Well—I am glad of it and hope you will like it as well you think you will. No I did not expect to hear from you while you were busy moving but hope to hear often now. it does seem as if Ed Beardsley had rather poor luck but he makes a good officer. He is now Capt of Co H. You will probably see the promotions in our Reg^mt in the papers. Lieut Jepson is 1^st Lieut of Co H & our first Lieuts name is Spencer from Cheshire and our 2^ond Lieuts name is Boardman. We like Boardman but Spencer is nothing but a boy He got a voice like a girl & acts like one. the 11^th & 12^th Corps are consolidated and form the 1^st Army Corps and Joe Hooker is our Corps (first Corps) General. General Slocum is ordered to Vicksburg. Have you seen his farewell address to the 12^th Corps if I had one I would send it. He passed through here today and we cheered him & he made us a little / He said he regretted leaving his Corps and thanked us for our gallant conduct on the march & in battle while he commanded us. We hate to have him go but still it dont make much difference with a Private Soldier who commands the Corps. We left Tracy City the 9^th of this month. We have been there 3 months lacking a few days and I disliked to leave but its over now. the Lady I boarded with cried when I came away for she said it seemed like losing a brother. So you see a person can make friends anywhere. it was the best soldiering I have seen since I have been in the Army. We lived high up there but we dont here. it cost the 3 of us that boarded there about 60 dollars for a month & a half beside our rations. We had eggs, butter, venison potatoes & warm biscuit (Southern fashion) 3 times a day. Here today I had raw pork for dinner & hard tack for supper. Such is soldiering. I am glad you are going to have lots of fruit and wish I could be there to help destroy it. But / I cant. 6,000 troops passed here yesterday from Indiana on their way to the front. I pittied them for they acted just as we did when we first came out they little know what they have got to endure. they were marching only 10 miles a day and thought that pretty tough. We have marched 30 miles the hottest day in July. It is getting dark & I must stop. We have to drill 3 or 4 hours a day now. I have not seen Father in over 3 months. But Co I have a good place and he is well. What is Mother going to do now, help & cheer her dont let her get discouraged and be a good girl and love & help your husband and accept the love of your aff Brother

Evelyn E Moulthrop

 

Antoinette M Stephenson

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