Dechard, Tenn.,

October 14, 1863.

Dear Mary,-

I have more time to write today than I had when I wrote you last and will tell you about my coming to this place. My Regiment, the 123rd, left Bridgeport, Ala. the afternoon of Oct. 5th, passing through Stevenson where I reported to Colonel McDougall for duty and went onto the cars with them and was in the car all night, arriving at Dechard the next morning about six o'clock. Here we unloaded and cooked breakfast and were talking about going into Camp when an order came to fall in. We were soon on the cars again and on the way to Wartrace where the enemy's cavalry had driven the guard away from the bridge and were trying to burn it. We had an eight hours' ride to the bridge, which we found burning, also a stockade a short distance from the bridge. The enemy were gone.

We cooked our coffee and lay down on the bank of the stream without putting up tents until morning. I could sleep but little as a rainstorm set in about the middle of the night and our blankets were wet through and water ran all around us on the ground and made it very uncomfortable.

As soon as it was light the Regiment marched to the station at Wartrace, which was about a mile from the bridge. Here we built fires and got breakfast.

Just before noon word was received that a large band of the enemy's cavalry were at Shelbyville, a village nine miles away. The Regiment, with another, fell in and went after them as fast as the men could march. We did not meet the enemy but cutting them off from retreat on three roads they made a fight with Wilder's Mounted Infantry. Wilder captured 382 prisoners, 4 pieces of artillery and killed 120 of the enemy.

At dark we started back to Wartrace. It became very dark and the road was a new unfinished macadamized road where there were uncovered drains with large stones in the way for the men to fall into and stumble over. We made but one stop until we reached Bellbuckle which is five miles up the road from Wartrace. We had marched fourteen miles in the dark. Only about half the Regiment reached Bellbuckle. The men had tired out and fell by the side of the way. They all came in in the morning, nearly all used up and many of them badly bruised from falling. Each one had his story to tell. On the morning of October 8th we marched into the station of Bellbuckle and remained there until about sundown, when we marched to Wartrace. We did not put up tents but rolled up in our blankets and lay on the ground until morning.

October 9th we marched out to the bridge, where we remained two hours and again marched back to the station of Wartrace. Here we expected to have a good night's rest so put up tents and spread as good beds as we could. About ten o'clock an order came to fall in, and we were marched to the railroad and boarded some freight cars and started for Dechard, which place we reached the next morning. The men thought by this time guarding railroad was about as hard as marching and fighting. Here we went into Camp.

During the day, October 10th, we received mail and I had five letters,- the first since leaving Seminary Hospital. I received two from you, one from brother Will, one from Mother Wells and one from Lieutenant Culver who still remains at Rickers Island, New York. Your photograph is very good and I am pleased to get it. Lieutenant Culver does not know when he will return. I found Lieutenant Brown in command of our Company. I have not taken command yet and will not until I see how the climate agrees with me here and if I can remain in the service. I am better than I expected to be in so short a time. I will close this long letter with love from,

R. Cruikshank.