Nashville, Tenn 
  Oct. 11th. .1863 
 
           Dear friend 
your kind and very interesting 
letter came to hand not long 
Since. I am glad to hear that 
you are well. and as a matter of 
corse you are a trying to enploy your 
life as well as possible. I am in 
the enpoyment. of midling health 
at this time. and hope this may 
find you blest with good health [penciled in] [and] 
spirits. D Albert has just returned from 
Louisville. I went last Week and was gone 
4 days. onely think I was almost one third 
of the way Home from here. we had 500 
[penciled in] [a] 
Rebs. on the train thy were ^ ragged Set of 
men. our Regiment is under marching 
orders at this time. we may Start for the
front this Week.. and again we may not 
go away from here this winter. we do 
not know where we Shall be one day 
beforehand.. there is a large Battle to be 
fought not far distant and before long 
I. do not know whither we shall participate 
in it or not. time will tell... I heard that 
two of. Mr. Lairds. Sons are. Wonded. & then that 
the Boys were dead. there was a good or great many 
wonded & killed in the last engagement. never 
theles our men held this position. the Enemy 
had five men to our one. our Brothers. the 
22ond Mich who have been with us ever 
Since we have [crossed out word] Been South. and they 
were orderd to the field. and. Shared the fate 
of Soldiers this field officers were taken 
prisoners. and about 1/2 the. regt. missing 
Some killed Some wonded, we will not 
See them as a Regt. very Soon again 
[illegible] what lots of poor wonded men and 
Boys have. Been brought here. to this place 
and there will be many more to 
come before long - May God speed the
 time when this. war. shall [crossed out word] close 
     and our people as a nation again 
[penciled in] [enjoy] 
peace. and. Serve God in a right & 
exceptable manner.. I. Just. Reed a letter 
which Mrs. M. Lickly Sent to me  
in with a letter which she wrote to 
A.W.B. think I Shall write to her son 
althoe she gave me the chance to do 
as I wished. about Writing, well it is 
about Bed time. and I do not think 
of any thing more to write. 
          	excuse all mistakes and poor 
          	Writing. guive my best respects 
to all friends & reserve some 
for yourself 
      yours with respect	 
 
R E Stout 
        Miss. Oliva. Barber [penned in] [Lickley] 
Wright A. Mich 
        Wright as Soon as convenient 
Good Night 
[penned in] [A W B was		[illegible] 
Albert W Barbre broth to 
Olive & Malowa Barber Lickley]