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| Camp Near Murfreesboro, Tenn
June 7, 1863
Dear Father
Morgan Co. E. Tennessee
I am here a soldier in 2 Regiment East Tenn Cavalary Commanded by Col D.
M. Ray from Sevierville Ten I have been in the service since November 20th,
1862 and have enjoyed excellent health all the time. Was in the battle
of Stones River before Murfreesboro. The Regiment lost several men in the
engagement amongst others my Capt James H. Morris he was from Knox
Co Ten and was a kind man and good officer. My Co is now commanded
by Capt James H. Knight I am Co blacksmith and do a good deal of
work. I recd a letter from home recently bearing
date May 7th 1863 it contained Sad news the death of
my oldest daughter Rachael also that my wife was very unwell I could
be perfectly contented here to fight for my country if things were all
right at home but knowing the condition of affairs there renders
me when I suffer myself to think of it unhappy indeed
has it not cost us many sacrafices to be loyal in E. Tenn Yet I together
with my exiled friends intend to strike for out altars and our homes until
the last armed foe expires or until the flag of the free again floats as
once it did over our State May the time not be long when Tenn will
again be Free.
Tis impossible to tell whether the Federal Army will invade E. Tenn this summer and even if I knew it would not be prudent to write it in a letter going there knowing that letters are frequently captured and that their contents often do harm to our glorious cause of Union. There has been considerable skirmishing along our lines at this place for some days past Also some heavy fighting at _______distance fifteen miles from here and at Franklin distance about 30 miles from here the rebs were repulsed everytime with heavy loss Remember me kindly to relations and friends Write me if you have an opportunity don't fail would afford me much pleasure to hear from you all. To
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| July 9th 1862
Camp Cortrel ner Cumberland Gap Dear brother and sister it is with presure that i take my pen
in hand to let you know that i am well at this time hopeing When
thies few lines comes to hand that they may fine you all well and soing
well and enjoying good blessing i have nothing strange tow rite to
you at this time i recived you leter July the 7 wich give me
grate sadisfactions to her from you one tim more i hav thought of
you may time since i say when i was ____the camp in the cold rain with
tears in myeise and i think of the hapy times when wee was together at
hom in peese____i would like to see you well but i don;'t know whe it will
be wee git the telegraf ____ever time have fite at rich mon wee hurd
today that our men was giveing them thunder generel the fite is not
de sided______the telegraf was that thay was fiting------
John B. Jones To Nancy R. Jones
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Dr Sir This is to say that your letter of inquiry after your Bro Wm S Jones dated the 1st of July 1869 was recd in due time and handed to your bro Wm who took it home to read at his leasure, saying that he would answer it soon, this is the reason why I did not write as you requested and not having the letter did not remember your address, and a few days ago I asked your bro if he had ever answered you he said he had not but had intended from time to time to do so but had as often failed, where upon I requested him to bring your letter up & I would answer it which he did yesterday, and I now proceed to give you the points as requested by the old man, He was glad to hear from you and that you and most of yours in person escaped the ravages of the late way, You say the Rebels took the most you had & in reply your bro says the Yankees completely broke him up, taking and destroying everything he had but is glad to say that through the goodness of Providence he and wife are yet living and thinks he will be able to live above want till it shall please god to take him hence to another world The old man is quite feeble times has attacks of dizziness in his head & cramp of his body so severe that he thinks he must die. The old lady is the most active of the two though she is the oldest. The old man is living at the same old place where he has lived for the last forty or more years on the Humphery's Estate. This part of Va is rapidly recovering from the effect of the war and the appearance of the country is cheering (?) notwithstanding we have to lament a lost couse and the sacrifice of thousands of brave and valuable lives; crops of grain of every kind was good with us last year and I think if we can get rid of Carpet bag scalawag and negro rule we will soon be the people that Va could wonce bost of; In conclusion will say that you bro wishes to be remembered to you and yours in love as and hopes you will write in receipt of this & he will try and be more punctual in the future that in the past. |
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