Nashville, Oct. 28th /63 Dear Parents again I am seated for the purpose of writing you a few lines. yesterday we received the Box of Coats in good order but not in very good season, but just as well. we have not needed them very bad yet, we had a quite a cool time for a week or two, but it is getting warmer again, & the weather is very pleasant we are all very glad to get our Coats. also the other things that was sent to us. the Gloves is rather Small. the Vest is about a fit. the Socks is all right last Night after I got my Coat I put the Jackets on I got the Jackets before I got the Coat you see. Mr David [Pharkes?] was here a few days ago, he did not stay only one night. His Boys both went Home with Him I presume you will see them before they come back to the Army, if they ever come back. I am on Patrol to day. so I think I will lay this one side for the Present. I will have to go out in a few minutes down across the RailRoad in the North part of the City. John [Cahon?] the one that was taken prisoner with [Duck?] came back yesterday day before yesterday. He has been at camp Chase most of the time Oct 30, I have just been to dinner & will try and write a little more the day has been very Rainy so far it has not rained very hard, but quite steady. the River is raising, & is Navagable for Stea mers again. the River is very useful to the Army & we hope the Soldiers will soon have more Rations although we can get along here. if we do not draw full Rations there is not much danger of a Soldier going hungry here at Nashville. but I fell for those at the Front when they have Short Rations & no chanse for foraging but we will not Despair, nor Complain, we have as good as can be expected in a war like this, we will March on, & hope for a better time a comeing. a Soldier here at the South is looked upon with Indignation but we care nothing for that, we feel quite indipendant & do not put our selves out of the way much for a Rebel Sitisen Citizen. I have more respect for a Rebel in arms against his Country, than for the one who stays back, & get sympathizes, & gives information, & does all he can to aid & Support the Southern Confederacy. but worse than all these, & the more despised by every Soldier, & by every true Patriot, is the Northern Copper- Head. after living under a free Governemnt, & on free Soil, & being blessed with all the priveliges of a freeman & protected by a free Government & then in its time of need, to turn a Traitor is very despicable, & should be before the dignity of any Northern Inhabitant, but Enough of this. there is two Class of People here in the South, besides the Blacks -- there is a Class that is Generaly very Wealthy, & another Class that is very poor. the Poor People are not thought as much of or Respected as much as the Blacks are by the Rich Class. the poor People work out for a living, some are to lazy to work at hard work & will Fish, & Beg, & continue all kind of plans to get along, & then can barely get a living, while the Rich own large Frams, & Negroes to wait on them. I have seen a great many Negroes dressed in their Broad Cloth, & Silks, & Riding in fine Carriages, & Promenading the side walks in great style. they have been Recruiting Negroes here as well as other places. sometimes they march them around the City playing the Musick, so as to get Recruits this does not please some of the Citizens very well, while others it does I am glad to see them Shoulder the Musket, & fight for their freedom. I do not call this a Negro war, as some term it, but the Negro will be Free, after this War is over. I do not want the Negroes in the North, therefore I hope they will be Colonized. I dont believe the Whites & Blacks were ever calculated to live together. I dont know as we could call them free. if they were colonized & were not allowed any where else, but I must close the Boys are quite well. Ralph is on Patrol today it has been some time since I have heard from you but I hope this will find you well. write soon all of you My love to all. Good Bye for the present from your affectionate Son & Brother Albert W. Barber We still have interesting & useful Meetings, & hope they may continue to be more so until the work of the Lord shall spread throughout all the Armies there is great need of a revival in the 18th Michigan we hope there may be soon. Sin or Moral evil should excite the Greatest abhorance, & we should remember that Honor affluence & pleasure seduce the Heart. Man was created to Search for truth, to love the Beautiful to desire what is good, & to do the best