Nashville, Tenn
		July 4th, 1863
	Mr. Homan Barber
	Respected sir,
			if it was not
the Fourth of July, I think 
I should not write to day
but as it is, I guess I will tell
you what I am doing this Fourth
of July.  well yesterday I was on
Patrol.  came off this Morning.
this Morning I was awakened by the
Report of Cannon Fireing, but a 
few rods from where I slept
they Fired about a dozen times.
to day noon they Fired about 25
times I should guess, & I expect 
they will fire a lot more tonight
after I came of from duty this
Morning I cleaned my Gun of
Course.  then Read a Small Book through

then for [illegible in original] time, and exercise
of the mind.  I worked out a couple
of Enigmas, which took me sometime
I then went down to the River, with
a Canteen, to get some water, as
there is a good Spring which Gushes
from the Rocks near the River
while I was there a Steamer came
[Plowing?] and Puffing up the River.
Dashing the waves against the Rocks
I Then came back went out to the 
Market House & Bought a quart of
Black Beries for 10 cts, but halt
one thing I have not Spoke of
about Noon, a lot of Negroes, I 
Should judge about a Regiment, nearly
all had Soldiers uniform on,
marched around here with Martial
Music their Leader, as Colonel
was a Black man on Horse Back of course
Some Officers with their Swords in
great Style behind were some on 
Horses, they were a Beautiful Regiment


	they were the Negroes. they
have to work on the Fortifications
there was a [Ponie?] today, out in 
a Grove near by but I did not go
since I have been writing it has
Rained quite hard, we have had 
a great deal of Rain within the past
two weeks.  James is here. he says it 
Seems like Sunday to day.  Luther had
a box sent to him, and James is get
ting his Sugar out. it got badly mess
ed up  Ralph is on the Bunk
Philip has gone to Louisville, KY
he will be back to night we think
I shall probably go in a day or two
they fetch in Prisoners most every
Day they are a hard looking set
a bout as bad as the Negroes, we saw
to day.  the weather is warm 
this morning I Saw Green Corn
to sell 40 cts per doz.  it is rather
small yet.  Some are Ripe  Apples
are [Riper?], new Potatoes, etc, etc

July 6 I will now write
a little more. although I dont 
know as it will go through very 
soon.  the Boys that went to Louisville
with Prisoners have not got Back
yet.  a few Rebels have got in 
there between here and Louisville
so I understand.  Consequently they
cannot come, neather can we get
any mail, but we will probably
get it again in a day or two
the News this morning is good, if
only true.  General Rosey drives
the Rebs down in Alabama.  I hope
he will drive them in to the Gulf of
Mexico, & the Report is that Lees
Army is badly cut up, but I cant
believe all the Good news, yet
I will wait a little before I Hurrah
if Gen. Grant is Successful at
			         a
Vicksburg, Rosey here & Me^de
on the Potomac, I think take it all around
it will be rather of a hard blow on 
Rebeldom.  H.B. . . . Albert W. Barber