Transcription
Nashville Feb 15th 1864
Dear Brother
I received your letter dated Jan 16th yesterday while on picket and therefore could not answer it immediately. I have been waiting anxiously for a letter from you, and was therefore very much pleased with your interesting letter and more, to learn that you was yet in good health.
I was also glad to learn that you did not have very hard times, because after having been in the service nearly 2 ½ years and such hard service too, as you have had I think it must be quite a pleasure to live in houses. We are as you see above yet in Nashville, all 2 weeks ago we thought for certain that we would leave, the men sent all their extra, blankets home we drew new tents, the Officers and men had their things all packed and ready to leave at a moments notice when orders came from Gen Thomas that if the 1st Brigade had not left yet, to remain in place until further orders, I think now that we shall not leave for quite a while yet.
Yesterday we received orders that 5 percent of the troops were allowed to go home on Furloughs.
If I wanted to go home very bad just now, I think I could get a chance but I do not care much about going at presant[sic]. I think I will get an opportunity in several months from now when it will be more pleasant H Reinking will probably go for one from our Company.
I think our Regt has been very lucky in most all cases, this is the second time that men have been furloughed in our Regt since we left Chicago while some Regts that have been in longer than we, have not had the same opportunity.
In regard to your question about the old Regt in this Department reenlisting, I can say that they are doing very well especially the Ill Regts, over 2/3 of the Ill Regts in this Department have gone home as Regts that is over 2/3 of the men in the Regts having reenlisted, that being as you probably know, the required number to allow them to go home as Regts, in cases where less than that number reenlist, the men go home in Squads the 19th Ill do that, Abraham Hess passed through here several weeks ago, he belonging to the 19th .
But I will not detain you any longer at presant[sic] so I will close, by giving you and all old acquaintances my best respects.
Your Affectionate Brother
A.H. Fischer
1st Brigade 1st Division 11th Army Corps
Department of the Cumberland
Nashville Tenn
