Wauhatchie Tenn
Dec the 23 /63
Dear Wife
I once more seit myself to write a fiew lines to you in answer to yours of the 9th. I was verry glad to hear that you were all well. I am well at preasent and hope you are. I got the cans and the letter yesterday but the paper hasent come. I am well pleased with the cans but I dident open them. I am going to save them for Chrismas and New Year. We dont get eney soft bread here but I am going to buy some. There is a bakery to the landing that bakes for the hospittle. I think I can buy some there and I will have a feast but it cost a good deal. Some of the boys have a pound of tobacco come for 18 cents posteage. We have again witnessed the certenty of death. A man in Co J droped down dead yesterday. He was carring a pan of ashes out back of his tent and droped down dead as if pierced by a bullet. He had a hart diszese and we have ben notified of a nother of our Co this morning. It was A W Davison. He died at the hospittle of tifoid fever. His mother was preasent. Your pa is well acquainted with his father the blacksmith. The weather is verry changeable here. We have two or three days cold and then verry pleasent about the same lenth of time and then cloud up and rain two or three days and after that cold again but the coldest haint verry cold for the time of year. It dont seam like winter. It is cloudy to day. I think it will rain before knight but we have got good quarters. I dont dread a storm as much as I do when we have got to lay in low tents. I tent with Orderly Williams and Sergent Andrews and Hazerd now. You think if eney thing should hapen to me there would be no one to write but that is not so. Most eney of the boys would write. You sent 25 cents. I have got money enough. I dont have a chance to use much and if I did I wouldent. I sometimes get an order on the brigade comasaries and get some things. I bought some rice yesterday and to day I am making a soup. We had a beefs leg and I am going to make one of the best soups that ever was eat in the army. I can do it. I wish you could have a cup full of it. We draw full rations of meat and three quarters of hard tac and half sugar and coffe. We get beef about half the time now. The rebs have made a raid and tore up the track between Brigeport and Nashville. The first division of the 12th Corps is up there guarding it. I think we will go back there before long. That is our place. The first divition should go ahead of the second but Generl Geary volunteered to come here so we have had to do all the fighting but I guess we have done the most of our fighting. I dont think the war will last much longer. The rebs have ben so badly whiped that I guess they will come to some terms before long. My soup is about done. I shal have to stop writing untill after diner. Did you ever get that letter you wrote and left half the sheet for me to write on. I sent it all back.
After Diner
I have eat my diner and it was a good one. We mess together in our tent. I do the most of the cooking. We had a bully soup for diner. I wish I could be home Chrismas and New Year. I want to see you and the children and my aged parents and all the rest of the folks once more. I want to see the baby so bad I can hardly stand it. I know he is a smart sweet little baby. I hope it wont be long when I can be home to help take care of him. I had a letter from Jacob last weak. He wasent verry well yet. They are on Masons Island near Washington. I hope they will stay there and never take the field. I dont belive Jacob could stand it. Tell Batchers folks I will send his things by some of the officers. Capt Sage expects a leafe of absence every day. I will send them by him if he goes. I will let you know if I send them and where they will find them. Tell your ma I will write to her before long. I am glad Billy dont have fitzs eney more but he will ruien him self takeing medison. I answer all of your letters. I get one a weak. It takes them a good while to come through but write often. I will answer them all. Give my best respects to all the folks. I send my love to you. Kiss the children for me. No more. Good buy.
C Engle