Transcription
Fort Negley Nashville Tenn.
Dec. 3rd 1863
Dear Brother,
Your welcome letter dated Oct 3rd has just come to hand and contents noted. I was much pleased to learn that you was well yet, concerning me I am as healthy yet as I have ever been before the health of the Company in general is good, there are only a few cases of sickness. Louis Schmidt I am sorry to say has not been well for several weeks past as J.H Schmidt is also not in very good health.
According to your letter your Regt seems to be as unlucky as ours is lucky, we have been at Nashville over 3 months now, although we have to go on duty pretty often the duty is not hard. we have to do Picket duty, and Train Guard duty. the Tickets are not far out and have tents at the Reserves. the Train Guards consist of Com. Officer and 25 men. Trains run from here to Stevenson Ala, 113 miles and sometimes to Bridgeport Ala, 10 miles further. a trip generally takes 2 days, that is if they go on time but so many accidents happen on account of the bad track, that it sometimes takes 3 or 4 days and even a whole week, but the Guards have a car to be in, which makes it very comfortable, and whenever they get out of Rations they can draw at the stations along the Road, take it all in consideration, I believe that as you say we have very easy times.
The news here are very much in our faver[sic], our troops drive the enemy back at every point, prisoners are brought in every day, last night 103 were brought in, all Com Officers, from a 2nd Lieut up as high as Colonel. The papers stated this morning that Gen. Hooker was to take command of the Potomac Army again. As you will undoubtedly know before this reaches you, the notorious Guerilla John Morgan, has made his escape most probably the work of some infernal Copperheads, there is nothing known of his whereabouts yet, it is rumored though that he went to Canada.
Our in East Tenn. seems to be all right again and the Rebs have got to make good their time to get away, or the Southern rights Committee will lose another gang of its folowers[sic].
I had a letter from Father a few days ago there was nothing new at home, only that Henry was to move on the Farm next Spring, to commence farming on his own hook, they were all in good health at home yet, but I am afraid that I occupy your time to much, as I have nothing of any importance to write. therefore I will close for this time by giving you and all acquaintances my best wishes and respects hoping soon to receive an answer.
Your Affectionate Brother
A H Fischer
