David S. Morgan, Letter #1

Crab orcherd* Ky
January 24 1862

Dear Wife

We have just got here and pitsed our tents and I snatch this opportunity to drop you a few lines to let you no that I am well and able to March We left camp young tuesday this is fiday eavning We will stay here tomorrow and probily till Monday We are now 106 miles from louisville We are bound for cumberland gap We have had pike all the way here but now we have to take the mud it is about 75 miles up to the gap yet it is posable that we may have to fight a battle up thare thare was a Battle last week down here at summerset We gained a glorious vcitory colonel fry of the 4th Kentucky Regment killed old Zollieffer(1) tha killed 4 or 5 hundred Rebels took a thousand stand of arms 80 horses and lots of wagons and provisions our loss is about 100 killed an wonded Now Rachel I have not got any letter from y this week But it was because we was marching I think I will get one tomorrow I would inform you that I had a verry sor arm when we left camp young but leroy(2) hauled my napsack for me till today I packed it I got along fine this is the finest day we have had for sometime it makes me think about sowing oats I dont no whether we will get the Rebels cleaned out in time to sow oats or not I think we will in time to cut them our paper states that the Rebes enlistment will be out the first of february and tha are talking of going home I dont no how this will be Now Rachel I will inform you that we have plenty to eat and and we have all ways had straw to lay on leroy and me went about a mile yester eavning after straw thare was ten wagon loads besides ours our colonel says we shal have straw if tha dont wont to give it up we will tak our guns and get it anyhow I like solgering now better than I did at the start so turn over Now Rachel I hope this will find you all well and doing well I wont to see you and the children verry bad and I do hope we will be permitted to see each other again in this world Now I will inform you that we found the stars and stripes waving in ever town between here and camp young We passed through springfield and Haysville and Danville and Stantford and Crab orcherd and others two teadious to name the ladies have small flags and hankerchiefs in great numbers I was tickeled at one young lady she waved her hankerchief and said old Zolly is Dead the people seems to rejois in the death of the reble general some thinks his men will scatter and go home we have not got all the peticklers of the battle yet we understand last nite that our men had Wiped the Rebels out down at Calumbus and was expecting a fight today at Bowlingreen if our men routs old Buckner the war will nearley be wound up in kentucky Now we will have to work the road as we go I guess we will have to work on the road tomorrow turn tell father mack and elvin to come over here and let us go down to tennissee rite for I expect we will be in tennissee by the first of March I would not be astonished if we go over in tennissee to tear up the frankford and Nashville rail Road I will close on the war subject

to uncle Mack and elvin and famley

Dear friends hope this will find you all well now I wont you all to remember I am trying to live religous I pray often I pray for you all and for myself I no if I am spared it will be through the Merces of god Dear friends I often think of you all at home if I dont see you anymore in the world I wont to meet you all in the good World you must rite to me as soon as this comes to hand Direct your letter to louisville 49 Regment Indiana volunters tell Emley that BB(3) is well and will rite in a few days farewell for the present

your husband
David S Morgan to Rachel Morgan

* Note: As always, I do not correct the spelling or change the text.

(1) Confederate General Felix K. Zollicoffer, killed at the Battle of Mill Springs, Ky.
(2) Probably Kearly, Leroy S. Wagoner, Company G. (probably hauled it in the wagon)
(3) B.B. is most likely Bazil B. Decker, Company G.

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