Richland Tenn Dec 24^th

 

Brother George

Dear Sir

            I recieved a letter from Father yesterday and was glad to here from home Mark also Recd a letter from you day before yesterday and was going to answer it last night. But at 9 oclock in the evening there was 2 men called for mounted & armed to report immediately. Mark was keen to go. they got back this morning they went after a Rebel soldier and found him in bed and wok him

 

            We are now mounted on good horses & mules a part / of our Company went out on a scout 4 days agow they may be back tomorrow if nothing happens

 

            I was out on a scout yesterday there was 5 of us Commanded by our Adjutant a bully good fellow. we went to Elktown 20 miles from this place. We all had good horses and good roads (Pike) we rode our horses verry hard I have got a splendid bay horse 7 years old. he has been in the Rebel Cavelry. he can just run a blue streak. Mark has got a nice little mule it just looks like a rabit We are having our own fun Nothing to but scout. I cant get to gow on many scouts as we have only 3 drummers at / this post and they need all of us. When the Co drew horses the Colonel said the musicians would not be allowed to have a horse. I spoke to the Captain about it and asked him to reduce me to the Ranks. he went and seen the Colonel about it. The Colonel said they could not posible spare me as we had to have music I went to the Colonel the next morning and told him that I wanted an order to gow back to my Company. he said I could not gow. I told him that it would take about 3 Quarter Masters then to furnish me with Drum heads. The Colonel laughed and gave me an order for a good horse and asked me if I was going / to reinlist again. The officers are doing all they can to enduce the men to enlist again. All that reenlists again gets a furlough within six days Our Fife Major Reenlisted again this morning he will start home Monday

 

            George Hunt & John Thornton of our Co started home this morning to get recruits for our Regiment as soon as they arrive at Paris you must gow & see Hunt for Mark sent you $50.00 by him. And Mark also sent Emory a nice little cattrige revolver

 

Emory you must be carefull how you handle it for it is a dangerous animal and carry it when ever you gow out and if a / Butternut insults you shoot him through the gizzard and then scalp him and then cut his nose off and leve him for the buzzards to chaw on

 

            Now George listen to me one moment George Hunt will be at Paris for recruits and take an old soldiers advice and dont you let him suck you in for 3 years for you are to young to stand the service.

 

I know what his orders are and dont you enlist. But do all you can to get others into the service If you see George dont say to him that I advised you not to enlist, say nothing

 

I did not send eney money home this time I could have sent $20.00 but I thought / I had better lay it up till next pay day for fears of some axcident

 

            All the talk now in Camp is who is gowing to reenlist again. I have not made up my mind yet what I shall do I may posible enlist again

 

It is time for Dinner Call I must halt                         

 

Yours Truly

J Bartman

Co "E" 121^st Ills

SOURCES