[Written upside down on top of Scan 1]

PS as for the Box it must rest
at Home for the present as
the express does not run down
here I think it will soon
                     Good day Mother

[End]

		Camp of 8th Mich Vols
	       Knoxville. Tenesee
			Oct 16th 1863
	  Dear Mother I guess you
        are tired of looking for a
        letter from me for it is
some time since I have written
to any one as we have ben
out on a chase after some
Rebs. we left this camp two 
weeks ago and left our things
all here so we could not
write. I suppose you have 
worried about me but I
am all right yet we have
ben in a fight since we
left here and we made
the Rebs Scadaddle in a
big hurry our Regt was in
the front we charged

on their line of Battle
and they lay in the woods
we advanced through an
open field and up over a
hill as we came to the top
of the hill they fired one
Volly at us the run what
did not fall or get Badly
wounded. and we followed
them through the woods
to an open field then they
opened fire with their cannon
and we stoped on the side
of a hill and let them
fire for they could not [hit?]
any of us their shell any
grape shot went just over
our heads as we lay flat on
the ground the Regt firing
until dark then stoped
for the night and we
spread our blankets and
went to Bed. had a good sleep

        in the morning we got
up early and got ready for
a Big fight as we supposed
and sent out our scurmishers
and they advanced without any
trouble then Gen [Freraro?] [Edward Ferrero]
rode over with his Aids
he went up whare they
had their Batteries and
came back looking so
Surprised he rode past
our Regt he said to us
(Gad) boys they have gone
then we starded after
them. we marched some 
twenty two miles that day
and they wer eight miles 
a head of us at night
    (I think that is big 
Scadaddeling don't you
     Well I suppose it is
no use of my writing the
particulars of the fight as you

will get them in the Papers
our Regt only lost two men
Wounded and one Killed
I think our loss in
all will not exceed .1.50 men
in Killed and Wounded
the Rebs loss was quite
heavy .. I only got one
shot the ([illegible in original]) in
all the fuss.
      I suppose you will think
Old Frank was almost
scared to fits no not so
I was right at home after
the Ball was fairly opened
I did not fear any thing
but the little lead Pills
flew rather thick around
my head but none of
them stoped to Kiss me
so I came out all sound 
and I am very thankfull

Well now I suppose one
sheet wont be enough
as you have not had one in
some time. well I was
glad to get back here
so we could get some mail
I found six letters here
waiting for me Oh how
glad I was to get them
I got two from you. two from 
Alvah. one from. Sarah and
                                      you guess
one from Miss  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Alvah was well when he
wrote his. one of yours was
dated Oct 1st. the other September 
24th. Yours found me in Tip
                                                ed
top good health I never enjoy
better health than I have
since we came back from
Mississippi you need not
worry about me at all.

I will write as often as
I can. I am very sorry to hear
such news from Ed. but it
is as good as I expected from
    him. I get letters from
    him quite often he always
writes a good friendly letter
to me and I do the same
by him. Alvah said he
had seen Augustus he did
not know him at first
his voice had changed so
I saw Clarance Miles
a few days ago he looks as
natural as an old sixpence
when I saw him he was
sitting on the fence smoking
in an old cob Pipe he
is first Lient in the
[7th?] Cavelry it was just
before the fight that I 
saw him. our fight was
at Blue Springs Tenesee


Well Mother I suppose Sarah is
looking for a letter as well as
you but tell her I will
try and write to her tomor-
row. she must not think I
mean to slight her at all for
I do not think of any such
thing but I have so many
letters to answer just now
that it will take some time
to get all around. tell her
I recd one just before the
fight mailed Sept 15th
    I will write her a good
    letter when I get at it
    tell Freddy I have not
forgotten him I wish I
could see him I hope
he will be a good Boy 
give him my Love as
a Brother

Now I hardly know
what to say about Ed
But when tax time comes
I want you to just tell
them to take one lot and
sell it for taxes if he dont
send you money to pay them
dont you even pay them out 
of Augustuses money
let the Place go if he cant
pay taxes on it. I suppose
he is laying up his money
for Miss E.S. but he
is not Welcome to fish
in thare if he likes
as for my Part I am
going to wait until I get
Home before I make any
choice in chicks.
    But I see I must close
    I remain as ever your
    Obedient Son BF. Marsh