Murfreesboro February 14th 1863


	Dear Uncle
		        As I think You would like to
know the feelings of this Army now and as I have
a little time to write I will tell you as far as I
know.  You must Remember that our battalion is
a Majority of what were democrats but now you can
plainly see the Copperheads we have a few in our
Company  Men that will jump at the least hold
to drive at the Government they have not Patriotism enough
to let minor things go for the Good of their Country they
would even let our Old Flag trail in the dust before
						       n
they would touch Slavery    some of them but tha^k 
God a very few would be willing to join the Confederates
on the terms they propose that is to join them and
renounce the New England States Commercially
Politically and Socially but what can we do. when men
have talks all kinds of treason [illegible] in our States
Houses and Public Officies can it not be Stopped
It discourages us boys out here willing to endure
any hardships for our Old Banner  Yet we are cursed
and dammed by citizens from our own Neighborhood

and States it is enough to discourage them and the
Sooner there mouths are shut the better we will like
it  Most of us know we are fighting in a regt great
and good cause but we see a big black cloud
raising in the North and we are almost afraid the
Good Old Ship will be [wreck?] hot if she does go under
there are a great many in this army will sink with
our flag we do not care for the Rebels in arms
for we are Confident this race is about [men?]
and if we can only hold the North united
and Stop the traitors at home these in the
South will be whipped before Fall.  But as long
as our Old Flag is in danger You will always find
me in the Army  It is not because I like war
or the life of a Soldier so much but there will be
no peace or happiness at home until this is
ended.. Another reason for a great many to complain
of being in an Army with Negros Now I always
[opposed?] arming Negros to fight our battles but if our
President and Representatives seem to think
it best is it for me to prove traitor

to my Country for that reason creating not
But a great many fly up at Such things but I
think if our flag sails safely through this Storm
that is this Spring and Summer a year from
Now will find our Country United and
Stronger than ever and in time to come
No Man will have the hardihood to raise
a banner of Rebellion and it will stand a proof
that a Republic can exist on the basis of [popular?]
Suffrages and it will be a landmark for every
Nation to follow.
	I have heard from Florie and Janie
that the Army agrees with Jim excellent and that
he is gaining in flesh I am happy to here it I would
like him to write to me but I suppose he has his
time all occupied as I have had only two letters from
him since he left Louisville for Memphis he see a
great deal of the hardships of war but if he was in a
a Lieut or Private in the Service I tell you he would get
the [Sweat?] of it we where out the other day in a Scout for
Seven days and had no tents tho First day was a bright
cold clear day the next it got warmer and rained and
Snowed for a night and two days and then couple
of good days then again two rainy days and night 

and then we got to our camp and the tents felt
awful comfortable if we could have encamped in
the same place every night we could have built — Brush
Shed but every night we would be in a different place
and it would be about dark when we got there so we
had a pretty tought time but not as hard as a person not
used to it might suppose but you know what it is to camp
out as you had a good school in surveying in Early times
	Coffey Allen and myself are all well but
Sam Jenkins the Coopper is suffering considerable
from Rheumatism in the Back Ray looks badly but is fit
for duty most of the time
	We have been changed from our old 
Division to the 3d Brigade of Cavalry Commanded
by Capt Otis of the 4th Regulars he is ([illegible] Brig General).
for Gallant Services at Murfreesboro the Brigade
consist of 2 Tennessee Regiments & Camps 4th Regular Cavl
and our five [Camp?] So you See in the forward movement
which will take place under two weeks we will take
a prominent part.  Give my best love to all the
family and excuse the writing as it is hard to squat down
and write [illegible] cross knee on hand
				Your Affectionate Nephew
					W F Peabody