Head Quarters 4th Mich Cav.
	     Camp Minty nere Murfreesboro
(Miss Dexter)			Aug 22 /63
	           Your letter of the 16th came
to hand to day last night at 6 o'clock
we received orders to be redy to
march at 8 o'clock withe one days
rations our boys was ready in
time our Company did not have
any more half half horses to mount
our men & I was one that was left
be hind I wanted to go bad enough
but could get no horse & I dont
believe in going afoot they rode
all night went most all the way
cross lots & just at dayligt came
upon a Reble camp they went into
the camp on a dead run and
of course took them by supprise
our company was among the first
to make the attacked the rebles.
fell back into a ceder thicket
and [illegible in original] fight our boys returned
about noon having marched over
40 miles over [one?] of the roughefest
roads & killed a number of rebles and
took over 100 prisoners & their horses [illegible in original]
their camp equipage all of this in
less than 18 hours one loss was small

compared with theirs but a part
of it comes right home to us one
of our company was shot right through
the Lungs the wound is thought to be
mortal he was a good soldier one
that had done duty ever since we
left Detroit his name was Edward ---
[Rasine?] Brooks knew him please tell
him of his misfortune we have been
togather so long that it seams like
lossing a friend and he was one of my
best. our Captain was standing nere him
when he was shot Edd orderd the Reble
to surender he said he would not
but drew his revolver and fired. the
shot did not knock him down Edd 
			               a
drew up is rifle and shot him de^d
and then fell him self his parents & 
Brothers & Sisters are living in Mich.. 
& this will be sad news for them
but such is the fate of war and
we must all try & be ready to
meat it    the prospect looks fair
for a forward movement we are orderd
to be ready to move at short notice
we keep five day rations on hand all
the time so you see we are not
agoing hungry I wish the 20th 
would come down in to this part
of the country but I guess they have
not left Kentuckey yet
you will notice this was is not the
best of paper it is some that our
boys captured this moring it is as
good as the rebles could afford I
suppose they captured every thing you
could think of and more to
I shant wright much more for
it blobs so that no one can read
it    it is now about 10 o'clock and
my neck aches for I have to bend
over in my house for it aint high
enough to sit up straight in
you asked me what kind of a country
this is down hear it is one of the nicest
I ever saw thare is some white folks
but not but few most of the
men have gone to the war thar is
once in the while a mighty nice Girl
& they are as saucy as they are good looking
most of them sesesh & they are not ashamed
to tell you so I will send you a sheet
or two of reble paper you can use
it or not just as you like
Frank is getting along first rate
& I am able to eat a part of my
rations I sent a letter to you
yesterday I will wright when
I have a chance and can think
of anything to write. but I must
stop so good evening pleasant dreams
& dont get the blues to often
			Othniel