Camp near Knoxvill
October 22 1862
Dear Father
I take the presant opportunity
to write you afew lines to let you
know where we are we have
just returnd to Knoxville from
a teen days march
When we left Chattanooga we had
to form Compines at Knoxville
we formed Battalions to march
thruogh the country we left Knoxville
for Coumberland gap and went
by the way of Clinton and
Jackbourrough we marched three days
a long by the Side of the moun-
-tain it is verry high and Steep
with large rocks hanging out on
the Side So that it would be
imposible to get up on it there
a narrough Strip of land lying at
the foot of the mountain a bout one
half a mile wide that is verry rich
put there is nothing groughing [1]
on it for the yankes had posesion
of it til it was to late to make
a crop the rode runs wright throu-
-gh that land
[page 2]
when we got in Sigh of the gap
we heard that Brag was coming
back from Kentucky So we turnd back
and came back by the way of
Tasvill and Gravesvill and over Some
of the mountains for east Tenn
is foul of them and we would
camp at the foot of them of a
night and the heverest dews that I ever
Saw it would be aulmost like
a Small Shower of rain
we made the trip round in teen days
it was hard marching but I
fatend on it Neil dide not Stand
it So well his feet blisterd Some
W.R. Holder and J. yongblood Stood [2]
the march well
we arrived here yesterday eavning
and we are all well to day and
redy to take a nother one if it
was nesessarry we have not got
to our companey yet nor heard
no direct news from them though
I expect that they will be here
in a few days
[page 3]
I do not know the presise caus
for our armys fauling back to
Tenn Some Say that the Secatory
off war has order him back ought
of Kentucky but I can not Say
when our Regt gets here I think
we will leave here and go towards
Nashvill
S.L. Horton Started on the march [3]
buthewas taken Sick and let at
Clinton
Tell Mary not to Send us any
clothes till She hears from us
for we have as many as we can
tote at presant
you or Mary one write Soon
for we have not heard from
home in a long time
Direct your letter as usel
To Co F. 39 Ala Regt
to Knoxville
Daniel Gillis