Dec 11th 1861
Knoxville Tenn
Dear wife & children it is with pleasure
that I avail My Self of the present opportunity
of Dashing a few lines in haste.
I Still have the chills yet I can git them
broke but they will return ever 7th or 14th day
I hope thoes few lines may find you all
well our Batalion Started yesturday Evening to
Kentuckey I am having 3 wagons loded with
provisions & Start to day & overtake them
to knight they wont let no one go home
on furlough that is able to do any thing
and I cant tell you when I will git
to go home you do not know how bad I
want to Sea you all kiss Buck for me
& tell him pa will come home as Soon as
he can. Elizabeth & Mary you Must be good girls
until I git home. I was inhopes I would
git another letter from you before I left here
but I will have to Start in a few hours
& the Mail dont come in until Morning
the last letter I got from you was dated
Nov 29 it came in 4 days & you Stated you was
going to Wright Eevery Week & I ought to got
2 letters Since but they have not come. I was glad
to here you all was well & you had S got a
chance of gitting Salt. but I am fearful
you have killed the meat & it will all Spoil
this warm weather. if you have not killed it dont
until it turns cold. you did Wright to let
Arren have the corn. I will wright to you
as Soon as we git stationed & I want you
to wright every opportunity. they hung one of the Bridge
burners here to day So nothin more but Remains your
affectinet husband until death W.T. Bishop