Out on picket as usual

10 miles from Nashville

Dec the 10^th 1862

 

Dear Brother I seat my self on the roots of an oak to wright afew lines to you I am well and hope that those few lines will find you in good health we are not very well pleased to day for our Company is at picket head quarters to day for the first time since we have been in the state of Tenisee the reason why we dont like this we cant get any hogs the last time before this we were on the out post and we got seven fine fat pigs an a calf I think that is good enough for one Company henry is sick or at least / he says he is. Israel he is two lazy to keep him self clean or to cook when he is hungry I have told him often that if he did not keep him self clean it would make him sick dont say any thing about this to any one that would let him now it Id I must tell you about a trip we had last night yesterday we drawed our over coats and the Col ordered us to have them on and ready for dress parade at 4 oclock and every felow was out to show his new coat before the time came round the next thing that heared was our good natured General Batey riding through camp hollowing out fall in boys for a fight and it was not more than / tenn minutes untill the hole brigade was on the march now one of us nowing where we was gowing untill we had went on double quick step for fore miles and we met some of our forage wagons and we learned from them that the rebl rebels was after them so on we went through the mud for too miles further and we came to the rear of the train and we halted and turned back they had the train at one time entirely cut of but the thirty fifth Ind Reg pitched in to the rebels like Devils and they could not stand it any longer the thirty fifth had three or four men killed and several wounded they said if we had of got ther a litle sooner we could have / captured the hole gang of the rebs Israel if you want to send me some thing by express I guess they can be sent now I would like to have too shirts too pairs of woolen gloves too pairs of socks too night caps that is all the clothing that I need one towl to send caned fruit you may send it or any thing you like that will keep direct the box to Lieutenant Caterson Co F 79^th

Ind Reg Nashville

 

I must come to a close so no more but remain

your beloved brother

Shelton Harding          To

Israel Harding

 

wright soon

SOURCES