[Written upside down on top of Page]
our reg. have to guard trains
from here to murfreesboro there
are 120 detailed evry day for train

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guard

No 23  Nashville Apr 19th 
Sister Emma
        Good morning
How does you this morn
I am well  It has
been a long time 
since I have heard
from you. There has
no mail come for
                                      t
our regiment to amoun^
to anything since we
have been here. I
reckon there will be
a right smart of
mail before long.
Day before yesterday
Horace was here to
see Charlie I did not
see him. Yesterday
I went to murfer-
eesboro and saw the
boys of the 11th Mich
Henry seemed glad
to see me he used
me like a gentle-
-man his wound was
not a bad one a
buckshot hit him
over the left eye but
it was a spent ball
so it did not hardly
draw blood. I saw
Pratt he is sick in
the hospital he looks
rather slim he said
he had lost 20 lbs
this week (or rather last
week) but he is Pratt
yet. [illegible] (is
that right) face is
as red as ever and
Leroy Coats as full
of the old nick
Capt Heath looks
rather pale he stayed
at home so long that
he came very near
getting reduced so
  one of
^  the boys told me
he is like all the other
officers. some like him
and some dont some
think he is kind of
a slink that is about
your opinion of him is
it not. it is mine
at least.
when we came back
from murfressbore
as I sat on a wood
car I counted 39 dead
horses and some of
the time I could not
see over the bank in
one place there were
4 laid as close together
as horses could lay down
together and how it
                         runs       h
smells. The r.r. ^throug^ 
part of the battle
field. But dinner
is ready and I reckon
I had better take
some while it is going
so I will wind up for
the present write soon
and oblige your brother J.W.