Camp of the 18th Reg't Mich. Vol. Inf't 
Nashville Tennessee Sunday A M May 10th 1863 
Brother William 
    I received a letter from 
you bearing date of March 3rd day before yesterday 
           on 
but I think it must have been written ^ May 
3rd as you Speak of the trees looking green 
& that the cattle had tight nips to pick their 
liven I was glad to hear from you also to 
      of Health			 
hear that you were enjoying a good degree .. ^ 
& that Father was So well for him I hope 
this may find you Still in the enjoyment 
of that great Blessing Health which enables us 
to enjoy all other earthly Blessings 
Wm I have at last got to Tennessee at the 
famed Citty of Nashville the 18 Reg't Mich 
Inf't is encamped close to the out Skirts 
of the citty we have to guard the public 
Stores on the landing the Government 
is 
[crossed out] [are] Shipping immence Stores of provisiov 
     n 
here the Railroad is takeing it to Murfreesboro 
At first we were used to guard Rail Road 
Trains to Murfreesboro & back I went down 
there Once I Saw Several of the Boys that 
enlisted in the Mich eleventh from the Town 
of Wright one of Mr Lairds Boys is there 
he belongs to an Illinois Reg't those 
two Boys that the Town paid 100 Dollars 
a piece are there Devoe & phillips I did not 
See them but Some of our boys did 
I have had Some little opportunity to 
See Some of the country about here ruin 
& Devastation Stalk abroad here at Noon day 
farms without fences Military necesity 
forceing horses & mules that are fit for Army 
Service into Service but little is being 
done in the way of farming in fact if 
the South presents the Same aspect as does 
the Surrounding Country here I Cannot 
See what will Save the Rebellion another 
year Many here had began to look forward with 
                 at 
hope that ^ no distant day the war would close 
But the defeat of Hooker at Fredericksburg has 
distroyed those hopes for the present
I am much obliged to you Wm for your 
kindness in looking after my interests Since 
      certificate 
I Sent that draft & ^ you Spoke of getting I have 
learned that it is of any value Some of the 
           blank 
Boys have received printed ^ certificates from their 
friends at home which were printed at Hillsdale 
which contains the propper form 
William if after Shearing of Sheap you can get 
Sheep for two Dollars per head you may lay out 
enough to buy Forty head I propose to put them 
on the farm & give Charles a good chance in  
order to keep him there till I get home 
Should that ever be 
As to myself my health is good I feel 
a conciousnes of doing what is my duty 
in enlisting for the purpose of Supporting 
the Government I have no particular 
likeing to Military life I like the quiet 
of civil life much better Albert Barber 
is well Albert Carver is here with the 
Reg't he is gaining his health gradually 
I received a letter from Ralph the other 
day he Says he[crossed out] [is] is getting better the
rest of the Boys are well the 
the Health of Reg't is good at 
present Wm Just now while I am 
finnishing this letter there is 
a rumor come in camp that Richm 
ond is taken & that the retreat of 
of Hooker back northe of the river 
was to keep the Rebs there 
I hope Such is the truth but we 
have heard So many false rumors 
that we do not place much confidenv 
          c 
in anything untill we know 
I must close So good bye  
from your Brother James 
 
to William