Camp near Columbia Tenn..
		Jan 15th 1865
Dear Lucy
		once more I
take my pen to write you a
few lines I received you letter
the 12th with photo.. all right
I think it a very good one
we left Louisville the 28th of
Dec.. with orders to report to Nashville
which we done the 12th of this
month we stayed thare a litttle
over one day received orders to
report at Eastpoint Miss.. we
are now on our way thare
we are in camp resting our

horses and wating for the pontoon
Bridge over duck River to be
completed it broke down and
let one company of Indiana
cavelry in the water the other
day drowend all of their horses
but none of the men
we are on the road which
Thomas retreated to Nashville
on & on which Hood retreated
from Nashville it shows
hard fighting a goodeal of the
way near Franklin close beside
the road on eather side are
seven hundreds of new made
graves thare is a number
within sight of whare I am
a writing a few [illegible in original] thrown
over them in a little they
will get moved away & nothing
left to mark the place
it might give one gloomy
feelings who is not used 
to see such things but after

	been     been
one has ^ down ^ here a year
or two they forget such 
sights as soon as passed 
     Everything shows mark of war
the fencis are all burnt & 
everything laid waste I dont
want you to think that I am
homesick for I am enjoying myself
as about as well as -----------------
Frank come to the company
when we come through Nashville
the Boys from our way are
all well       this is the
first litter I have writen
you since leving Louisville
I have received but one
from you. perhaps the next
you will get from me will
be from Miss..  the land
of snakes reptiles & fevers
& other good things

		Othniel