Knoxville Tenn Sept 4^th/64

 

Sister Gabe

I rec^d your letter dated June 29^th and was glad to hear from you once more but was sorry to hear that you was sick but I hope before this you are well. I am still here in about the same health that I was when I wrote to you last I still think of coming home soon I would have been at home before this but the Rebs tore the railroad up between here and Chattanooga and that caused the trains to stop but I think that they will run again in a few days and then you may look for me home.

 

Gabe I am awful tired of this place I have been here nearly three months It will be three months on the 9^th of this month since I have been here So you see I have spent some of my time in the Hospital 

 

The reason why I did not get your letter sooner is that it went to the Regt and was detained there a month or two You say that you had to have butternuts to help you harvest—well that was bad enough but I hope that they will all have to go with Mr Draft and try their hands at uncle Sams trade for about three years or during the war for thirteen dollars a month and by the time they have served their time they would be willing to work in the harvest field for a reasonable price. I would like to see some of them have to go through what some of our boys have went through this summer I think that it would tame them a little I think that if they had to lay in the ditches for a week at a time and dare not look out If they did it would be sure death to them Such things as these would be just what they ought to have and I hope that they will get it 

 

Gabe I rec^d a letter from Mollie yesterday She says that Old Albert Hockensmith is gone up well bully for him dont you say so It is just what has been hurting him for these many years poor old fellow. well Gabe he got a Sorrel headed girl any how didnt he. now I hope that he will be drafted into the army of uncle Sam for I think that he is just as able as thousands of others that are here fighting for their Country. there is talk of Indianas men coming home to vote this fall at the Presidential Election If they do the butternuts had better all be dead for the boys here have got it in to their heads that all that is keeping this war up is the Rebs at home and they all swear that each one that is each Soldier when he gets home will kill his Butternut they all have taken an oath to this effect and I believe that they will do what they say they will 

 

Well Gabe I dont know what to write next that would interest you. tell Iddie that I will be at home soon and then I will come to see him.

 

O! yes I got one of the gayest old letters from Indianapolis the other day that you ever seen I will not tell you who it was from but you have seen the author often. yes and I wrote one in answer thats all Say nothing about this to any person

nothing more But remain as Ever

Will. R. Conarroe

 

[sideways]

 

Gabe this is a spanky old letter so you will think when you read it            W.R.C.

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