No 1 S 
	Officers Hospital Nashville
No 25 G 20th Dec    1864
		Dear Aunt
	Thinking that I had
put the matter off long enough
this morning I resolved on writing
you but not as I agreed to
I have but one excuse to offer
   At Louisville I lost most all my
Photographs so thought I would wait
& not write you until I got more.
   But have poor prospect for that & 
will not wait.
     The weather in this climate
appears to be very changeable some
of the time we have fair weather when
it will rain & then snow & then freese &
be cold enough to freese a man to death
& perhaps in six hours a man will
want his coat off & sleeves roolled
up. We have had a desperate rain
and a desperate fight here: Our
forces are still pursuing the Enemy

toward the Tennessee River
39 pieces of Artillery fell into our hands
a large amount of small arms and
8000 Prisoners & we are taking more hourly
They are a hard greesy looking set
some are without shoes and nearly all
minus clothing of Some kind
   I have been to this Hospital 9
days ago: I do not enjoy very good
health although I am much better
than I was when I came here
In making our long march from
Louisville here I became reduced by
sleeping on the ground. On this
march I saw many things of interest
At Lexington I visited the finest
Cemetery. I ever beheld containing Remains
of Henry Clay & wife & many more distinguish
ed Personages: In the portion used for
Soldiers burial. I saw a number of
names on head-boards that I recognised
among which was Gilbert Powers
Of the scenery the natural & artificial


curiosities (if such they are for such
       they were to me I have not
room to commence speaking
Bacon Creek I will always remember
as it was a cold day when we followed
crossed recrossed forded Crossed on
logs & finally some of the Boys fell into
it & came near being drowned
     Green River is a sightly stream
its banks being elevated very high
above the water & are Rocky & nearly
perpundicular: the water at a
distance looks as green as grass
Horse Cave the second in magnificence
of Kentucky Caves I entered & was
well paid
  Lost River is a sightly stream
dodging about among the Mountains
of southern KY when on reaching
the Pike it suddenly disappears
among the rocks & is never after
heard of. Nashville is a nice
place that portion on the north

side of the River is called Edgefield
the Staples here just now are
Mules & Niggers.
The window at which I am writing
faces Eastward where I can look out
& see the Gun boats plough the waters of
the cumberland & could see a portion
of the Battle when it was going off
  I could write a full letter of most
any of the places I mentioned that I
saw while on the march
I give you a brief outline that you
may know where we have marched
How do you get along this winter
with your chores, Give my Respects
to Boyes & family & tell him if not
inconvenient I would like that wheat
stored until next June unless Dell should
conclude to sell before that time. If so
she will pay him good storage
Give my Respects to all the neighbors
who perchance inquire of me
My Love to the children & yourself
Does Jane Doll & Mate attend school?
I should be pleased to hear from you
much & a line from Jane
	Good Bye       Truly Yours
		                M Holmes