[Penciled in on top of Scan 1] [Oct. 19, 1864]

          Chattanooga Oct 17th /64
Cousin Joseph
		I think it a good
idea that has come to me of talking
a little with your [highnass?] this morning
[several words illegible] come in from 
policeing our camp: that means
(as perhaps you dont know) cleaning
or sweeping the grounds; We are very
pleasantly located here at fort Creighton
with Loomises famous Battery A
We have splendid grounds for camp. high
n dry. Chattanooga seems entirely surr
ounded by a range called the smoky mou
ntains: the Tennysee river [illegible] its
crooked path among them, it is so winding
that you may sail 15 miles on it & find
yourself but [3/4?] of a mile frome here.
  think
I ^ that something like Franks plan
of shearing a Hog to get wool: Although
the town seems bound by mountains it is
built upon hills of considerable height

The forts are located so as to make it one
of the hardest places I should say to capture
Lookout mountain lies a seeming mile
				   is
from here but is really 4 or 5. it ^ the place
where Hooker accomplished a daring effort
at scaling its sides in face of rebel Batterys
or musketry  I suppose that our troops endured
great privations here last winter when the
rebs cut of our supplies so that there was
but one waggon road through though the
mountains. & six mules could draw but so
	  of crackers
many lbs ^ once a week & it took six more
to haul feed to supply them Rather tough
Some of the boys say that they had but one can
of corn per day for three days & many horses
starved to death: I tell you friend [illegible] at
the North.. knows just nothing of the privations
		       is
& horrors of war. it ^ mighty little that I have
seen between this or home that is north
fighting so fiercly for. It is now 
for citizens here to get sale of govern-
				  all
-ment even & the boys say that ^ one
needs to obtain any gratification he

may ask of the others ex. is to have a
pocket full of Salton Coffee
[How?] think you we should feel had we
cause to think that our wives or sisters
we bartering their virtue for the com-
mon necessaries of life: I do not say
that this is universally the case. but
more than people at the North ever
conceive of. I have not told you why we
	      s
are here. in^tead of at our own Battery!
It is because the road is infested with troops 
			           be
of the enemy. Hood seems to ^ making a
last effort to obtain a foothold in some
plase: Our Battery is said to be
on the march after him & we do not
know where they are & we could not go
on foot unarmed through the rebs if we
			  ie
did. Our Captain & L^utenant are
with us. the Captain has been sick at
his residence in Holly & has not been with
his company in six moths. The men in 
this Battery here are having mighty easy
times. They have not done 1 weeks hard work
in six months

How are all the folks at home & about there
I have not heard a word from home sinse
we came from Jackson & then by [illegible]
I dont know as we shall until we get to
our own battery. I am agoing to keep
writing & perhaps bye & bye may get some
[illegible] How is the political campaign
running with you. the day is close by
that will decide the matter & we 
feel quite anxious to learn of the
results There is not one hundreth
part of the copper here that one comes
in contact with at the north
			  n
I heard that the 10th Ten^essee regt
had not a Mac man among them
& I have not heard one voice hurrah
for him since we have been here
there but very little political conversation
among the soldiers
well Joseph you will write me of
every thing wont you: The [markets their?]
[fortune?] prospects & etc if you will
send now & then a Tribune (weekly)
I will be obliged to you & write to
Charlotte pay you for the [illegible]
we get no news from the northern
press here to amount to anything
I am feeling the best now of any time
since home Henry Andrus has the
measels: Our soldiering so far has
not been very tough: please give my
best wishes to Sarah & all of the folks
& allow me to hear from you soon
Yours [illegible in original]
Direct to Battery H
1 Mich. L.A.Chattanooga  }Alvah
		          Tenn }

[illegible]

[Penciled in] [1864-10-19]
Joseph Bamber
Highland Oak Co
Mich