letters1862

Civil War Letters 1862

Fort Craig Jan. 5th 1862 Dear Father, I received your interesting letter of the 26th which gave me much pleasure and to which I hasten to reply. I am still enjoying good health and content of mind. The monotomy of Camp like affords so little new and interesting to write about that my present reason for writing is to keep up corispondeence with my friends at home. Our condition is unchanged except that we have prepared our bunks for cold weather but our precaution seems as yet to be in vain for the weather has been very pleasent all fall and so far of the winter. Yesterday we had a little snow and today and yesterday were the coldest days we have had this principle wood for cooking purpesis, repairing our bunks and ocasionaly division drill which consists in sham battles with blank cartridges, It is generly thought that we are to do nothing this winter but guard the Capital unless we are attacted. I am still Cooking for the company. Tomorrow we are to be paid off and I will send you some money eather by Mr Payton or other wise. If I send it by Mr Payton, you can get it at George's but I will write before I send it and let you now where to find it. When you write again let me know how Wade is of for cloths and what prograss he is making at school, if he needs any cloaths before you receive money. but them for him and I will make it all wright, let me know if you received the picture I sent to Wade and if not I will send you one as soon as I get to town. The news that you were going to marry Mrs. Swaggard came in a letter from Miss Vine's uncle to Wm. Murry. Catharine, I think that the boys who feed you so much candy as to make you sick(as Dans letter stated) had better be here fighting for there Country. You seem to tant me very mutch pleasure as you had when you were eating your turky. For while you were eating your turky, Andy Knapp and I went over to Blankards and got a half gallon of tangle toe and we felt as independent as a hog on ice. Alic says that he felt for the turky but could not reach them. Wes is as sober as a judge tonight and says he would rather have turky than tangle toe. spase forses me to close, so good by for the present. Write soon. John Hawk To Father.

Camp Craig, Va. Co. K 19th Ind. January the 12th 1862 Much respected Father, Agreable to my former promis, I take this oportunity of writing you a few lines. concerning our health condition and prospects and also of the money which I spoke of in my last letter. Health is generly good here and the Blountsville Boys are all well and livly Last night many of our company were made glad by the arrival of E. Davis, James Orr, E. and B. Hackman and E Ashcraft, who brought many useful presents to the boys. The wives of Cap. Williams and Lieutenant Harper came as far as the city but have not arrived here yet. Mr. Orr thinks he will remain here some time. It is the current report here that we are to advance on Centerville within ten days but I think uncertain. The weather since my last letter has been wet and drisley and the ground very muddy but today the sky is clear and the mud is fast disapearing. Last Friday, Wes and I were at town and had our pictures taken. you will find one inclosed in this which (if you have Wade at home), I want you to send to Dan. Last Thursday, I sent $10 to you by Mr Payton, you will find it at Georges. I want you to provide Wade with comfortable cloths if he has not already got them and the balance you can use as you please. I have nothing more of interest to write and will close by sending my respects to all inquiring friends and to the Ladies. Be sure and write soon so good by. John Hawk To the Folks at home P. S. Tell E. House that I will write him a letter soon. I would so do now but I am on guard and have not the time.

Fort Craig, Vir. January the 12th 1862 Dear Sister, This another evening to write you a few lines to let you know am still alive and a most the living and am well at this time. I was thinking of sending you a present. It contains of a breast pin and a pair of ear fobs. We got some candy, sent by Wulradt and it makes us wish that we would like to be back once more. John is setting by liking his candy and is saying sweet Marian and I am saving mine for I dont git them every day. tell Marry More that I would like to see her once more runing from door to door. Tell Mary E. Hawk and Dan's gales to rite to me and that I hant forgotten them yet. I think of everyday and tell Father that when he rites to let me know how Uncle Washington is getting along with his afairs this winter. Tell Licinda, that I was to town last Friday and Bill was kicking a round as well as common. Tell the girls that ant married that they had better wait until we soldiers git back and then they might mary some boy that is some body and while you are telling them, gust wait till A W G comes home a gain. Now this guelry is the finest of gold and you must take the best of care of them and take good care of Wade till I come home and write often as you can and be a good girl and that is all I ask of you. Tell the boys that A W G is going to gurk some of them ball headed the first thing they now. I am going to quit writing for I dont now of any thing new to write now so I will quit for this time. you must write soon as you get this. so no more at present, your respected brother John Hawk send this to Cathrine Hawk NOTE A W G is Allen Wesley Galyean... although this letter is signed John Hawk. the style and humor belong to Allen Wesley Galyean Who probably wrote the letter and signed John's Name.

Fort Craig, Va. Feb. 7th 1862 Respected Sister I received your interesting letter of the 20th and shall drop a few lines in answer to it. The health of the Regt is better now than at any time since we left Camp Morton and except a few cases of small pox the only complaints is bad coald acasioned by wilful exposure. Our Company are all in Camp and well excep four. Our condition and ocupation are the same as last heard from us. The weather is still damp and rainy and the roads so bad as to render it impossible to transport heavy artillery or baggago, so that there is no danger of us advancing soon. yesterday, we shot two rounds at a mark and an exact record of each shot was cept for (it was thought) the purposes of selecting sharp shooting to go in advance of the main body of the army to notify them of the attact or position of the enemy and to prevent surprise Our company done by far the best shooting but we are to try it again tomorrow and there is no telling who will succeed yet. I received letter from Wes Turner and Mary Hawk and was glad to hear from them and to know that they thought enough of me to write. Tell Father that I want him to write me a letter and let me know all about how he is getting along and how many axe handles he has made this winter and so forth. We are expecting to start for Bulls Run as soon as the roads dry up for we have received new tomyhawks and intend to cut our way right through to Richmond. We the Brave Boys of the 19th never intend to return home until the stars and stripes shall wave over the Birthplace of Washington, Jackson, Sumptor and Calhoun and ther mild sway shall be enjoyed through the whole South. Tomorrow morning we go about ten miles west on Picket Guard where we will remain three or four days. I belive I have nothing more to write and will close by requesting you to write as soon as you reveive this and let me know all the particulars about Suse Pierce. So no more at present, only I remain as ever you affectionate brother John To Catherine Hawk

Head Quarters army Fort Craig, Va. March the 2/62 The grand army on the Potomac, the Nintenth Ind. Redgm or the Blood Suckers and the Blountsville Rangers. S. Marideth, Col. Dear Miss, I will be gin writing you a leter now in a few minutes to inform you that I ant so bad as I was when I was so bad. I received your letter some time ago butv have neglected to rite but now you see that I am at it for keeps. We are yet a live but a mans shadow is nothing, We see good times and so do you but where we are now will be heaven to what is to come for the old song is coming true for Gordon is a hard road to travel when the Nineteenth will start out with several others to aid her and stand face to face to the enemy and there will stand till the last arm foe expires to try to hold the glories stars and stripes and preserve them which our fore fathers fought for and which we now march under and fight under and die under which will be done by the 19th in a few days for the love of there Country and there liberties, which God intended in the first place. We engoy the victories that the brave men have won as well as them at home. I think if Mr President Davis would begin to multiply his men, he wouldant have any to add to next. I think that he will soon blow out and if he dont perty soon, Mr McClenen will sweep him out or try it mighty hard for old Scott will take his specks to his eyes and blow him to the other side of Gordon. Fox Scott will show him one trick that is worth three of his. I would like to be in Blountsville one week to see my friends a gain and to talk to them but I still live in hopes that I may be with you all at Blountsville, on the free and sacred soil of old Indiana which will be like the golden streets of Geruslem to us. You hear the gospel preachers, day after day, we hear nothing but are you ready for the field, you my brave boys and will you suffer the colors? Trampled under foot? And the answer is given with cheers and then a groan to represant the tiger. May Gods blessings rest up on you all now and for ever more, So I will close by expecting to hear from you soon. A. W. Galyean. To Catharine Hawk

Culpeper, Va. March 6/62 Miss C. Hawk Your letter has come to hand. Found me and my bunky sticking up over the tent when the letter was handed to me. We are camped in a bout 50 yards of ouer old Camp. He looks gust as hard as ever. We had a gay old time comeing through if ever a set of soldiers had or citizens. It is common thing for citizens to have things to say where soldiers are. the country is as smoky as ever the mountains gust as large and look as hateful. Chigly gust so fat and no fatter. You must write him beter leters, that is more loveing for soldiers like loveing leters but they want the words to come from the heart instead of from the lips. Those are the kind for me, not saying any thing a gainst your leters atall, for I want to write to both Kates as long as I write to any body and then to be so lucky as to come home and git a Kate for a wife. The one you said you thought I had notion of suits me perty well. You and Sam, I belive was talking a bout it while I was gone to Indianapolis. You thought I never thought much of her untill I came home.I new this before leaving home but didant say any thing. John Barnel is with us but he is a hard chap. I am glad to hear of boys enlisting. Uncle Sam has a Spring field rifle layed up rusting for all that will use one. I am sorry to heer of Sam going to war. Foot bad. I no what time he will have on long marches. I like to see all that is able for service going, for I want so to see old Boby Lee cleaned out this summer. I find out there is better company with girls and I thought that before going home. Grub is better I belive. We came through with out any great accidents happening to any one. To day finds us all well. Stuck on a Va. hill for the war, injoying ouer selves as well as possible with out playing cards. To day is Sabath, which we respect if we are soldiers. I will quit writing by hoping those lines may find you all well and seeing good times.Better than you had when I was with you my self but to tell the truth. I never hated any thing in my life as bad as I did to leave my dear old mother. I had to keep whistling , singing, all the way to Selma to keep it off my mind. I will close the letter by hoping to have the privalege of kissing you once a gain by expecting to hear from you soon. I bid you good by, this was writen by your sincere friend Allen W. Galyean

Fair Fax County March the 13/62 Much respected Father, I take a few spare moments this morning of writing you a few lines I am well and hope you all are. We left Camp Craig last Monday morning a bout four o clock and went one mile beyond Fairfax. It is a general movement. There was over one hundred thousand on the roads with us and we was in the lead of the army. We are looking every moment for orders to move on to Manassas. The rebels took the hint and left there old den of Bulls Run and Manassas. We would bin there but when the rebels left they blowed up a bridge that crosses the river called Rappananock and we are bridgeing it so to git a cross to them and run them a gain. We traveled fifteen miles the first day. I think we will stay in Manassas tonight. Tell Mr House that I am trying every day to git hin a scalp but they run so damed fast I cant ketch them but I will stick close to them till I do git one for I dont think they can run always. The weather has been nice for us except the day we started and it reained perty neur all that day but it lookes favorute for us this morning. We still take a few rebbles yet. I seen two this morning. They looked vary hard. I think there days are short ones, for the 19th has got the lead and I think they can leed right through. Tell Lieucinda Lasey that William is on the ground with us and giting perty sout. He is lively as any one on the ground. General Mac Clelan said all winter that we would git Manassas with out loosing a man so we have. We heard that some thought him to be a Tory but he is one of the best men we ever had. Direct your letter as before. I will have to quit so no more, so good morning from John Hawk To Father I thought I would tell you that I thought I could take a trick if I ever could git in site of them. A. W. Galyean

Camp near Culpeper March 17 Dear Father, Wishing to hear from you, I wrote you a few lines leting you know that I am well and hearty and once more on my old stomping ground. things look as natural as ever. cant see that the hills or mountains have growed any at all. We arrived in Culpeper the night of the 4th without any accidents happening to the Reg. I believe We had a gay old time coming through. The boys were running the machine. officers had not a word to say. they were plesed. We have built comfortable quarters for the time of the year, we will live all bunk so long as we remain in the present camp. The health of the Regt at present is very bad. The recuits are having there sickness first. The weather has been pleasent for some days past, every thing going all right. Drilling is the largest job we have on hands now until we have to reach old Lee. The army lags still, will for some time, I think. It lags as it did when we left home. Nothing new Have been going on except the Calvary that Patrick has taken his scout to butler, they havnt returned yet. We have heard a few of those reporters since we have come back. A cannon ball has the same kind of whistle as ever. It has more of a veteran sound. gust like a man had three years yet to serve, bully for the three years, Times are not so pleasant as they were at home, cant see quite as good times, Not as good dinners as we were favored with at home. Dancing has plesed out several things. The feather bed had plesed out, poles has relived the feathers. We are having good times in ouer tents, Talking over what we have done. What we may do. What might be done and all the time thinking when this cruel war will be over, We heard there was another call of two hundred thousand. We think that will make Henry county thaink what will be done. I am going to quit writing this evening untill I hear from you. there is nothing of importance going on in this department. Hoping there will be something more done against, I write you a gain, hoping those few lines may find you all well and will hear from you all in returning mail. I will close the letter, quit writing for the present. Yours as ever John Hawk

Catliff Station, Va. April the 20th/62 Respected Father, I again am permitted to tell you that I am well and injoying soldiers Conveniencies and rest to day in Camp. My wishes are when these lines reaches you they find you all well and enjoying all comfort that Indiana could bless you with. I recieved your letter when I was in Camp at Alexandra but couldnt get time to write before we started on a long march and we will leave this Camp in a few days if not to morrow for Richmond for to try the struck of there ranks. We came through there works at Centerville. There had been so much talk of they was ant so strong but could make a heavy stand better than at the Gunction. they had a very large encampment at both places. We camped on the ruenes of the old battle field on Sunday morning. The Gunction was a hard looking place where they had burned every thing, cars and waggones. No end to them and other things to tedious to mention. I am going to send you my Captains picture and if Phillip wants it, let him have it. I cant write much to night but I will rite the oftener. I want you to send me some fish hooks and line for I want to ketch some fish and eat. Send them in a leter and if you see Dan, tell him that I want him to rite and direct as before. I will have to close my leter. I want to send House one word. Write soon, so no more, rite how you are doing, so good night. John Hawk To father and all a litle to Mr. House, sir, I go by John, yet the same old chap and them Centerville guns would bear a little watching and it will take some watching to git the skelp and that takes the old brandy. John Hawk

Bell Plains, Va. June 2th Kind Friend, Your letter has come to hand, found us all well and hope these few lines may find you all well and enjoying life. The snow is a bout 8 inches deep this morning. on the level some places deeper. We have made another attemp to cross the river but the ascendency of the weather did ant permit but I didant look at that so mutch as I did the grey devils on the other side. The contrabands are coming in dayly like black sheep. The boys will hollor, you black devils. Some more of the Presidents proclamation. It is soldiers that can talk to blacks. Samuel is busy cooking beans for our dinner. I told or let him read the letter, the reply was that he had buged you. John said he didnt care a dam. so Burny and Sumner, General Franklin has been relieved of there command by there own request. Hooker takes command and I hope they all will resign so they wont have no one to command. The armys all will all git to come home then. I come to fight for the old flag in stead, fighting for the negroes. We have some watch meeting but not so pleasant as yours. We meet and watch for rebels while we are watching them we almost freeze ourselves. Tell Sam Bainter that his birth day comes before mine but I belive I am the biggest. I way two hundred and eighty. If he can best it he can take the cow. When we was at Fort Craig, we used to make brags what we would do with the rebels but that has all played out, we are willing to play quits with them, it is all for honor that this war is caried on and mony beat. I still hope that I will be so lucky as to get home safe and take a hand in some of your plans, please write soon, wrote by Allan W. Galyean a member of company K, 19th to Kate Hawk

Fredricksburg, Va. July the 13/62 Dear Father, I again seat my self to rite a few lines to let you now that I am well and doing the duty of a soldier of old Henry Counbty. We are still lingering on the banks of the Rappahannock. Nothing of no great importance going on at this place. We are expecting to march at every hour. We have had notice to draw ten days reashings but I think that will play out yet, we are in the healthiest place of Vurginia, so the citizens tells me. The inhabitance of this place is nicely situated. Boats runing up and cars running through and good country to back it. I was on General Washingtons farm, a beautiful place and also seen the monument of Washingtons mothers where the traiders had skirvered it with shot. We have been bothered with the high waters in the last two weeks. It took part of the ralroad bridge a way and to the pontoon . Health is tolerable good. This division has lost more men in the last month by deserting than any other way. Every long march, a man comes up missing. We had a gay old time the fourth. the fun begun by a mule race and foot racing and then horse runing. Col Merideth one hundred and forty dollars on the little gray that he has. We can beat any thing on the go and they all felt there keeping before night. We have some gay times, the horse that run was the Conaway mare. the gray mare that he fetched. I would like to hear from you a gain. It has been long time since I received a letter from any of you. I want you to rite oftener. I begin to think there must be some thing the matter. Tell Cathrine, I will send her some money in a short time as soon as we are paid off. I will send you a lump off of the monument of Washingtons mother that was nocked off by shot and shell by the Confederates of this place. Well Father, I dont now of any thing new to rite you and will close by hoping you all are well and by expecting to hear from you soon. rote by John Hawk to Father Direct as before

Oposet Fredricksburg, Va. Aug. 5th 1862 Dear Father and Sister, I once more take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter to tell you now I am in good health at this present time when these few lines come to hand. I hope they will find you in good health. I am a Cooking fore the Company. The Regiment has gone out on a scouton expidetion.They started out this morning at two o clock, we haint hard from them yet. The hole Bregade went besides a portain of Burnsides troops went whitch came last eveing. I haft to stay at Camp to Cook rashings to send to them.They expect to be gone 4 days before they return and likly they will be gone longer than that.There are noe telling surten when but 4 days is the set time to come to the Camp. I can tell you more a bout them in the next letter. I must tell you what me and Andy Knapp had for diner, he went to a little town this morning and bout a nice fat pullet and a lot of youn potatoes and we cooked them up and we had as good a Diner as you could wish to se or set down to and I wished you was here to help us eat them. We have three more young chickens to make a pot pie to send out to Wes Gallion and a man by the name of McNess. A. Knapp bunk mate, me and Wes bunks together. Wes has had the mumps and is purty nere over them now. Well, I ges I had beter close this time so goodby, yours till Deth. John Hawk to his Father and sister. You wanted to now about Mailen a going to Taribut to live with Liss Baley, he can go if he wants to go and leave the rest of the children. He can go as far as I am consurned. You spoke of me a going to lose my curly headed Marium, let her go, as for my part, there are plenty of curly headed one here of the full bloded stock, got as curly a hed as any littel lap dog. I send my best respects to you all and inquiring friends. Father, if you will git your likness taken and send it to me, I will send you the money to git it takin with. Answer this as soon as it comes to hand with out delay, so I must quit Note: The last part is unsigned, it must have been added to the orginal letter. Also the mood is different. I would think someone else must have written this letter for John Hawk, as in it he states that Wes Galyean was not with him.

Camp near Atlanta, Georgia September the 13th 1862 Dear Aunt and Grandfather and more. I am premitted to seat my self to write you a few lines to inform you of my health, which is very good at present and hope when these few lines reaches you they may find you enjoying the best of health. Well I havent very much to write at present and so you cant expect mutch but one thing I can tell you, I think, I have got in to camp and more. I think I will get payed off now before long, I think it is time for we havent had any pay for nine months and I havent seen any money for six months untill the other day, I got five dollars from home. Well, Catharine, I suppose you will see Nate Templeton before you see this letter but I hope you will get it in time to send me what I want. I will tell you what it is. I want you to send me a hankerchief. I am not perticular what kind it is, just so it will wipe the swet off, for we swet like a big negro at a election. Well, I guess I have written all of importance but I will ask you to go and see if Nate will fetch them things before you put your self to any trouble to get them ready to send and I want you to give my best wishes and respects to Catharine Bainter, tell her I would like for her to write to me and let me know how she is a geting a long. Well. it is after roll call and i was on picket last night and am sleppy, so I will bring my fewremarks to a close by asking you to write, direct your letters to Company B, 84th Reg. Ind. Vol. Via Chattanooga, Tenn., so no more at present Respectly your nephew John W. Turner to Catharine Hawk.

Camp Wales September the 30/62 Dear Aunt, It is with great pleasure that I sit down to inform you that I am well at present. Hoping that those few lines may find you enjoying the same health. I am in Kentucky. a bout five miles from Cincinnati and two miles from Covington and about a quarter of a mile from the river. Well I must tell you that I have not wrote any other letter to you but I have done wrong, but if you will forgive me and I will do better next time. We have a good time here, going out on pickett, we take in two or three rebbs every time but I think that we will not bring many more for they have all took the hint and went off. Times is hard here and money plenty, for I am going to send you a ten dollar bill of Lees money. we can get a ten dollar bill for five cents in silver. I want you to tell the boys and girls that I am in for three years and if I live to get home. I think that I will be a man. For I think that it will make a man out of a boy. This is just the place for to make men out of boys. The boys is all in good health and spirits. tell Catharine Banter, that I want her to keep that ring that I made for her and that I want her to to put a few lines in for me and tell me how she is gitting along. Well, I must bring my letter to a close. Write as soon as you get this letter, direct your letter to the 84th Regiment, Co. B. Ind. Volunteers. Cincinatti or Covington, anyone will do. so no more at present but remain your tru nephew till death. write as you get this, from John W. Turner To Catherine Hawk Blountsville Henry County, Ind. Note : This letter to Catherine is from her nephew and also of course a nephew of the John Hawk we have been seeing all along. I belive he is the son of a John Turner which we will get into in other letters. As the war went along ,there were many of the same family in different regiments

Camp McFall October the 13, 1862 Dear Aunt, It is with great pleasure that I sit my self down to inform you that I am well at present. Hoping that those few lines may find you enjoying the same health. I received your letter this morning and it is the best one that I have had in a good while. It gave me great pleasure to here that you had a good time at the apples cutting and prair meetings, as for meetings, we have them every night and we cant get any apples to eat, let alone having apple cutting but we have a good time here for we have to march about 40 miles up the big Sandy river tonight or in the morning. The rebels is scarce here but up where we are going there is plenty of them and we are going up there to thin them out or get thined out our selves. We are on the Ohio river in Ohio but we are going to leave now in an ouer, so no more at present but remain your true nephew. John W. Turner Catharine, I was borned in the year 1843, July the 16, age 19 years.

October 17, 1862 Dear Grandfather, It is with great pleasure that I sit down to inform you that I am well at present, hoping when those few lines reaches you, it may find you enjoying the same health. Now we have stopped again to rest a few days and get recruited up. we are at Guyandot, forty miles down the river from Camp McFall. Gallipolis, Ohio. We are in Virginia now where the rebels is thick, this part of town has all been burnt out by union troops. yesterday there was a squad of rebels in this town and there was four of them come up the river and saw us and they come up to this town and told them that we was coming and they all left here with a hurray and went up the big Sandy river. Well, I must bring my letter to a close so no more at present, but remains your tru Gransun untill death. From John W. Turner to John Hawk Note: This letter was written to John Hawk Sr. the father of the John Hawk that we have seen in the other letters. John W. Turner was John Hawk Sr's grandson.

Bakersville, MD Oct. the 24th 1862 Dear Father and Sister It is with great pleasure that I attempt once more to write yous few lines to let you know that I am still alive and well. sincerely hoping that they may find you in the enjoyment of the same blessing. It has been sometime since I last wrote to you and during that time I have seen some pretty hard times and some very had sights, such as I hope I never see again. It is unnecessary for me to attempt to describe them to you as I presume that you have had as good a discription in the papers as I can give. We have had no trouble for some time and I hope that we never may have again. We have been in Camp for some time and I cannot tell how long we will remain for we have to keep 3 days ration on hand all the time yet that is nothing for we may not go into another battle this fall as there is no enemy in force close to us nor they have not been for some time. I think that they are all going to Richmond and if they do we will not see them any more this fall as it is to late to march that distance this fall and I think they will settle the furs against spring so I feel rather safe now, yet we may have a hard time. We have had out Lt. Col. killed and also our Major, our Capt. has been promoted to Lt. Col. and our Col. to Brigidier Genl., so our Capt. will be our Col. he is a very good man and worthy of any promotion. Lt. Orr will be our next Capt., there fore when you write again, direct in care of Capt. Orr as there is nothing of importance going on. I will close. Write as soon as this comes to hand. John Hawk

December 2nd, 1862 Near Fredricksburg Va. Dear Father and Cattie, I received your letter of the 26th Nov. was glad to hear from you. I still cook for company K. Capt. Orr and Will Murray got here night before last , they appeared glad to join us again. Catharine, I received your cake. I would love to be at home eating cake. We have been expecting to march before long, yesterdays paper reports 120,000 rebels at Fredricksburg, where we expect to fight. Some of the boys are building houses as though they intend to stay here all winter. Cate, you was complaining of my not writing, we have been marching nearly all the time for the last month, if we go in winter quarters then I will have more time, as for sending money, I cant at present for we have not been payed for five months. Tell Aunt Huldy that Wes is well, the boys call him General Burnside and think that he is about all the boy that lives. Tell the folks of old Blountsville, that I hope the war will come to an end this winter and let all the boys return home. and so a general good time. Well, John must quit writing and get supper. as ever your Brother John Hawk

Camp near Nashville, Tenn December the 11th 1862 Dear Father, I take the pen to let you now that my health is not very good at this time but I hope that it will git better soon. I have been sick for a bout five weeks but I am so that I can be in Camp again. I am lame in my left leg sence I ben sick so that I am not able for to do anything yet and the Doctors say that I will be a long time before I will do duty and they are going to send me to the hospital again and if they do , I will come home if I can, any way a tall, and see you all again. We are at Camp, five miles south of Nashville and thair is plenty of rebels down hear. I think that we will have a fits a little before long and we will whip them like the devel and then we can come home and stay with our friends and relation. Our brigade has gone out to day and I have heard the Cannon all day and I think that they have a little fite and I hope that they will come out all rite. Father, I intended to sent you some money, the last time that we were paid but I was taken sick and was sent to the hospital and had thirty five dollars stold from me that it left me with but little money till we are paid again and I dont now when that will be for it may be six months before we git any more pay. I cant thing of any thing to rite that will unterest you that I will bring my few lines to a close by saying, rite soon and often for I hant a very good chance to rite hear. From your true son William Hawk To his father John Hawk. direct yours to the Co. F. 57th Regiment Ind. Vol. Nashville, Tenn Note: This William is a brother to The John Hawk that we have seen in the other letters.

Camp opp. Fredricksburg December the 18th 1862 Your unexpected letter come to hand tuesday last, which found me all right that was about all. We had gust recrossed the river and a happier child you never saw to think that I was alive. The people thought we could take the hights on the other side, so we did gust like we will take Richmond, over the left. We were on the other side of the river three days in gun shot of each other but there was no fireing with muskets, only by skirmishers, We would fire at each other a while and throw ouer gunes and go to one another and trade coffee for whiskey, then break back, go to firing. We were on picket the night of skededle, they was going to let us be taken prisoners to save the rest of the army but we slipped out to easy. Well this is enough a bout the blammed war. All foolishness any how. I got the sugar cake and eat it and all I regretted was that the lump wasant biger and when I looked at the picture, I found out you were better looking then I thought you was. John showed it to the boys for his gal, they said it was a good picture, they didant care who it was, all I hated was that it wasant mine. We are having a good time, times hear in the woods perty near smoked to death but that nothing. I take no offence of you not writing sooner but I thought you might of known that I was playing draw game from over the crick. I hope you all may have good times and good health and I hope that I may be with you once more when you are having your good times. I thank you vary kindly for the lump of sugar. All I can do is to send you a few of off hand kisses and best respect. Samuel Dinkover is in Company K now and is at this present time drawing his vinegar and pork. I will close by expecting to hear from you soon. I send my best respects to all of my inquires. A. W. Galyean To Catherine Hawk I was gust thinking which would be the healthest staying hear where balls whisling over making me dize or at your house with my arm a round your neck and a kiss now and then, I will leave that to you. So good by. Kate.

1863 LETTERS