Mrs. H.J. Holmes
Fentonville
Gen Co
Michigan

		Head Quarters
		8th Mich Vols
			Tenesee Sept. 20th

	Dear Mother  I take this apper-
tunity of penning my thoughts
to you I am happy to inform
you that the Presant finds
me in excelant Health and
I hope this will you.
	We are still on the march
we crossed the state line about
12. Oclock. to day Between Kentucky
and, Tenesee. so we are in
Tenesee now on ground that
was the Rebs but a few days
ago.            Cumberland Gap is
a hard looking Place, and
with the twenty two Hundred
men the rebs had thare it
would have cost us many lives
anda much time to have
taken it by fighting.
    But Gen Burnside done
a fine thing here in cutting
off their Supplies and 

thus causing them to Surrender
for it saved many a poor 
fellows Dear life.
	We have just Camped here
for the night I suppose we
shall keep pushing along until
we get to KnoxVille which
is fifty miles from here
we have come eighty two
miles now and carried our
Knapsacks all the way it is
a very Mountainas Country
through this part of the
World. I have Ben in three
States today. Ky. Virginia & Tenesee
the three states corner just this
side of the Mountains.
	I dont know as I can
send [crossed out] [you] this when I get it
Written but I must try
 you kneed not worry if you
dont get letters very regular
from me while we are
Marching for it is a great
trouble to send our Mail
off when We get it written

     Mother I wish you would
Tell Mr Shaws folks when
they write to Will. if they     
know what Hospital he
is in to Direct to the
Hospital and leave off the
      Regt and Co for all his
letters come to the Regt
and I dont know whare to
direct them so I have to
keep them in my possession
I hope he will write to me
soon and tell me whare to
direct to him. as he prom-
ised when I left him.
I have recd one from him 
but he told me not to write 
untill he wrote again
I think by the time I
write again I shall send
for my Boots I will see
                                 an
it will be depending    whare
we are. I wish you
could knit me a pair
of mittins with a fore fingure
for handeling the gun

but I guess you kneed not
for I think I can buy me
some. if you want any
thing just write and let
   me know about it
I Guess you will
think this a poor letter
but is is written in a
Big hurry so Please
excuse haste and write
often From Your
Affectionate Son
B.F. Marsh

in this I send you a few Pawpaw
seed they grow on Bushes and
look some like an Egg in shape
are good to eat put some of the
                 seed in the ground [illegible]

[Written on the sides of Scan 4]

and see if they will grow did my Persimon seed grow
Yours in Love Good Bye Dear Mother