Carters Dept April 25th 1864
James Whitaker Sen
Dear Father I take this time
to write you a few lines to give you the
news we had a fight on the 25 & 26 inst
the yankes attacted us on the 25 at one oclock
the fight was kept up till Sundown they
war repulced with Considerabal loss we lay
on hour armes all night the atact was
received at day light & lasted till 9 oclock
when they drew off thar forces & retreated
we have bin expecting to be attacted
ever sence till this morning hour scouts
has come in & report the yankes below
Jonesborow leaving in a hury So we
are all right again hour loss is 4 wounded
5 taken Prisoners none kild they yankes
loss 3 Captured & 30 kild & wounded
among the kild 1 mager & 1 Capt
hour men faught well Thomas legion
was all the forces her except a small
co of Tenn cavelry the yankes had
700 men cavelry Artilry & infantry
we had no Artilary the Legion has
gained considerable Repatation in that
affair in fact it was well done
& Father it Seemes that Providence
had some thing to do in it for they
expected to cross the River 3 miles
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below her with thar main force
& while part of thar forces ingage us
in front the balance to attact
us in rhear but the river Rise in
the night So they could not cross
So they all attact us in frunt
I had bin sick for 3 or 4 but I
could not bar to see my men go into
the fight without me So I went in
to it I am now tolerable well Mc [1]
is well & fought well
you have heard of Gen Forest Capture
of fort Pillow he kild 600 & taken 100
prisoners he since has whipt thar
Best Cavelry generals and Cerby
Smith & Dick Taylor has whipt Bankes
in 2 fights & has made large capture of
men & Canon guns &c all so
the north has met with Disasters
in N.C. & other places I am bound
to think the war will close Soon
Father I have not had a line from
you since I left Home I would like
to her from you I am a fraid
you & mother is having a hard time
I hope you will not Suffer I supose
my Family is having a hard time
to get eny thing to eat tho I
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eny from them for over a month
I hope they will not suffer we are
living a litel hard but we dont
grumble I must close
write soon your Son
S. Whitaker
A few words to Litel Jim Whitaker
Dear Sir the Co is well & all want
you to Come back you had beter
come as soon as you are abel
to come if you are not abel to
come be sure to git a certificate
from an army doctor & Send
it to me. James we had a prity
Fight we done the thing up
right the best you ever Saw
you would have bin glad to
see how brave the boys Fought
& how fast the yankes Run
my Respects to all
yours truly S Whitaker