Wauhatchie Tenn
Nov the 16 /63 (contents of the letter suggest that the date is actually Dec the 16 /63)
My Dear Wife
I once more take my pen in hand to write a fiew lines to you in answer to three of your letters. I received two yesterday. On was mailed the 25th of Nov and the other the 2 of Dec and one I just got was mailed the 8th of Dec. I was verry glad to hear that you were all well but sorry you have so much troubel about me.
Wensday Eve.
Dear Charlotte
I commenced a letter this forenoone but couldent finish it. I had to go and help build a corduroy road. The roads are so mudey they cant get our rations up here from the landing distance three miles so we had to all go and work on the road. I would wrote yesterday but I had to go and escort a forageing train so I will write some this evening. I am well. I have got over the piles and I think I feele better than I have since we was at Fairfax last winter. I am tough as a bear and harty as a buck. Can eat everything in my reach that is eatable. I wrote a letter to you stating that I wasent in the last battles but you hadent got it when you wrote. I think the day the battle commenced I knew you would wory again. I would liked to ben with the boys but perhaps it was all for the best. You want me to try and get a furlough. That is out of the question. Them that get furloughs are thoes that are wounded or sick. If they are sick they cant get a furlough unless they are at the hospittle. I want to see you all verry much but I cant come home yet. It would cost fifty dollars if I could get one. I hope we will all ceep our health. I dont think we will see eney more fighting this winter. We have got verry good quarters and a healthy place. We buried another of our boys yesterday. It was Sergent Newman. He had the cronac direar. We have lost a good boy and a true and faithful soldier. He was respected by every oficer and soldier in the regt. He was a bold man in battle and was luckey to come out of so meney hard fights but we have all got to die eather by the efects of bulets or diszese. You musent send them cans. It costs to much and I am afraid I never would get them. I would reather have yours and the childrens likeness. It would do me a great deal more good. You say Matie grows. I would like to have her taken standing by your side. If you will send it to me I will send this one home. I can put it in this case. I will put the old one in this letter. You wanted to know what became of the rebs that dezert and come to our lines. They take the oath of aleigance and some enlist in our army and them that live inside our lines go home. There is a good meney go in our army. Some work for the goverment. The weather is warm for the time. We have had some heavey rains lately. Tell Mr Batchers folks that Travice is dead. He owed Jim five dollars. Tell them if they see John to make him pay it. It was borrowed money. He was the onely one that I know of that owed him. I dont know wether Jim sent eney braclets by John or not but I guess not. I think there is some letters back yet. Write often as you can and write with all the news. I hope this will find you all well. My love to you and all.
From your affecuante husbman.
Chas Engle to Charlotte Engle
I wish you would send me a almanac of 1864. You know I uesed to like to read in them. I think it will be handy for me to have one.