Penciled in on top of Scan 1 – ann
	Camp Fowler Memphis Tenn
			Nov 24th 1862

     Dear Father & Mother.

			I received your
letter this afternoon was glad to hear
from home once more again.
Ma has a sore finger has she , that is
bad  has it been sore long and does it
pain her much  .
yesterday evening at ten o.clock we heard
a horse coming along the road Severance
Says marching orders.  we began to think so
for certain when the horse began to
come closer . the man went and give the
Col the orders .  after the man had gone
Severance went and saw the Col and
marching orders sure enough for Wednesday
morning .  we dont know where we will
land  we will go to "holly springs" first I
suppose from there I dont know where next
Holly Springs is about 70 or 80 miles from
here so I understand .
We have to get what is called the shelter tent
large enough for two men only  . our old
tents I will have to turn over.  we are only

     allowed six teams to carry our baggage 
that I dont think is enough but that is
the order and so be it.
I should not wonder if we were in an engage-
ment fore very long . where of course I cannot tell .
It is a wonder that we have not heard the
fire bells up town they generally have a fire
up there before this time in the evening
there is a fire in Memphis as regular as
night comes I know knew of 4 fires one
evening there has been an immense
damage done   .
	        I suppose there is in the neighbor-
hood of Memphis 25 000 trooops  some Ohio
some Illinois Iowo  Wisconsin and Indiana
the 83 . 97, 99 , & 100  Indiana regiments
are here . we are in a brigade composed
of Inda & ohio troops yet I believe there is
  one Illinois regiment in it.  we are
encamped  way of from any of the rest
of the regiments .  we have a very fine
camping ground indeed so high  .
I will wait and see maybe by to morrow
night I will be able to learn more of our
march , I have just been writing a letter
to Flora . C.  there is a fire uptown now
the bells are ringing and you can see
the lights .  I am not home  sick bad
I would not come. home if I had the chance

and stay there.
        One  day later and no further
    news except that the 12 Inda Vol
   come here last night   they have been
on parole  .  and are from Indianapolis
by "Cairo"  Mr Scott of westville is in
the 12 Inda Vol. and is here with me now
at half past nine pm the 25 Nov
1862 .
there has been three or four fires
already this evening one not ten
rods from camp . and this minute
the fire bells are ringing hard in
town  .
We will go to "Holly Springs " I suppose
send your letters to "Memphis Tenn"
and they will be forwarded to us.
we may go some where else you
know so you had better send them
to Memphis  .
	         I am well as usual.
     Your Obedient Son James L Cathcart

      Chas W Cathcart

LaPorte    Co
	         Inda