Edward H. Ross to his wife - June 15, 1862

Chattanooga June 15 th 1862

Dear wife

I imbrase a nother oportunity to cend you a fiew lins to let you know that
I am on the land of the living yet by the blessings of God hoping when these
lins come to hand that they may find you in the like blessing
I received a letter from you dated Ap 6 which was red with great interst
it being the only one that I have got since I left Bowling green
you have now idie how proud I am to hear from the children
I have had some fiew chills this spring caused from expozure
I am enjoying myself finely but 2 things that marr my peas
one is being seperated from you and my bleeding contery
the yankees are playing the waite in Tennysee
they have possesion of all the coutery north of the Tennysee river
we hold one side and they the other
they take any thing that they find in the coutery that they want in the way of
provision nigors muls horses cattle and they have all of the Miss river ecept
Vixburg and they will have that as soon as they are deposed to go and take it
Thomas Peter arrived hear 2 weeks a go from Texas who was foulowed home
he lived in string poruri
he was in our neighhood the 10 of Apr at Elm grove
he sai the man that lives there told him that you were well and doing well
he intended to call and see you but was disiponted and had to go a nother
rout
he travled all the way by land
he made it in 20 dayes and caused him 20 or 25 dollars
he gave me a great deal of sadisfaction thoe he did not get to see you
we have just got of a hevey cout of 4 week
we started from [???] on Tennysee river 30 miles below dicatur
to Logan 2 days and was gon 4 weeks and landed at this place
in Georga the yanks run force in behind us and two large fore us to whipe
our only allternative was to come threw a distance of 100 miles and all the way
threw yankdom
we had several little brushes with them but not mutch harm don during this
hole trip
we had one tin cup to the man in the way of cooking utensials
they are fighting in Virginia and at Corinth with heavy loss on boathe
sids
the fate of these 2 great batles will speak great things ether for or aganst
us
we are all in good spirits yet and beleave that victory is ours
I have cent you a letter by Capt King
if it ever gets there or at lest I gave it to a man by the name of Crenal
he gave out going and gave it to King and it was delayed som 4 weeks
I wrote to friend Ned in that letter that if he fielt like trying Uncle Jef
a while to come out and take my plas
I want to come home if I can this somer but if he dos not come I dont know
how it will be
he will have to come by land a hors back
it will not cost him a great deal
wrote to him thinking it get there about the time helayed by his crop
the only means that we have now of cending a letter is by hand and we have to
write whenever anybody is going
I want you to watch every oportuny of cending me letters by every chance
that you have
I have just returned from meeting had a fine cermont preeching at 5 this evning
I wore the white shirt that I tuck from home with and the little souldier
coat that you made for me and a yanke pear of pants that I got at Shilow
I have plenty of cloaths to last me all year if I can keep them thoe we have
to scatter about so that I dont how it will be
the health of the regiment is very good
I havent heard from the boys since I left Corinth
they were well then
I wan you to excuse this squib of a letter
paper is scarse and high
we have just been paid off
money plenty and nothing to by
pray for me may the
may the blessings of heaven rest upon you
take good cear of the babe
tell Willi and Margrit to hug and kiss it for me till I com
tell Sarah and Davy to bee good boys and girls and that I havent forgot them
give my love to Ned and family and all the connection proticular to Father
and retain a double potion for your self
I remain you afectionat husban untill death shall seperate us

to M A Ross by E H Ross her her Husban

Edward Hampton Ross Letters. Wharton County Historical Museum.