C.W. Love to his parents, November 21, 1861

Hopkinsville Christian Co Ky.
Nov. 21st A.D. 1861

Jas. M & T.A. Loves:

Dear parents:
This leaves myself and the other Relatives in good health excepting colds. Uncle A.C.L. has not come up with respect he was left at Clarksville as we came through there with some 20 of the Regiment that were sick 3 or 4 of them were of our company the last one of our Company will come up in about a week one of number that were left died two or three have died since we came here we left here yesturday was a week ago as we thought to fight the enemy at Madisonville but we were taken to Princeton Caldwell County where we remained a few days but found no enemy in a body -- the worst enemy here are the Unionists -- the little 6 cannon which we had with us went out the day before we left Princeton and returned the day we left they found a Gun boat on the Columbia River some where below Canton and shot at it once fut fired no more as they concluded they were not able to injure it. but they afterward heard that the shot they fired damaged their wheel house some and broke the hog chain the artilary men said the boat got off some distance and fired back at the little cannon with Shell Ball and Grape but did no harm we could hear the firing to Princeton Distance about 30 miles there are a good many Texans here and elsewhere in Ky Terrys Regiment is at Boling Green and there are a good many companies in other Regiments It is about 30 miles to Princetonwe left here yesturday was a week ago at sun down traveled till 11 O'Clock Slept on our arms and got to Princeton next evening about 4 O,Clock -- We left there day before yesturday about an hour before sun down and got here yesturday about sundown -- We have a report here that a fight took place at Pikeville in Missouri in which we are said to have lost about 200 men the enemy are reported to have lost about a thousand in killed and wounded but as I have before said you are more likely to get the truth than we -- there is possibly a good deal of Skirmishing but no prospect of a general battle I would be very glad to have some news from youI have had but one letter from home since I leftMany others however are getting letters all the timeSome have had as many as 6 or 8 letters from about in Freestone and LimestoneWe have no news of importance when there is any if I am living I will write immediately and will let you know all that I can -- Gen'l. (Tilman) his name is spelled Tilghman has been sent to ColumbusGenl Clark takes his place here I know nothing as yet about him what there is of this is considerable Scribble. I will write again soon

Yours in filial regard till death

C.W.Love

Love Family Correspondence. Special Collections, Burnett Library, Texas Christian University. Fort Worth, TX. (TCU Box 298400)