[1] October 9th [1863]
Nashville
Tenn

Dear Child
I sent you
aletter some weaks ago and halve
not heard from you yet. why dont
you wright. I am well as common
except abad cold we halve heavy duty
here. the nights is very cold. there
has ben avery hard battle on the front
47 ohio regt engaged. ohio boys suforde
mutch. I under stand Thomas Harlan
was kiled. Elwood Hale is sick in
nashville he is able to run about over
town. there is to be one of the hardes
battles fought down here on the front
that has ever ben heard of on the
continent. let it come sooner the
better for all god bid it Spead
[page 2]
there has an awful sight
of troops went down by here in
the last two weaks. the cars has
not done eany thing else but
hall soldiers day and night the
rebs had better be hunten there holes
for rosey is goen to give them fits
I got aletter from your uncle
Elick some three weaks ago staten
that they were all well it was good
news to me Oct 10th Clear and pleasant
Darling last evening as I was wrighten
will Harlan and Elwould Hale stept
in we had alonge talk Elwould is
well so is the boys of the regt.
Elwould stayed till night with me
so I will finish my letter this
morn. Abi and Almira rote very
hy of Malvina and the baby on
the the last day of chool I was glad
to here of them ben well
[page 3, slide 462]
Mary Ellen do the best you can
give the best council to the two
little ones that you can. and
tell David to kill all of the val
= anding ham votes he can. we
are goent to vote here for
bruff
Mary Ellen I halve not
mutch more to wright at
this time. till I here from
you I hope I shal here in
afew days Child wright soon
I halve not heard from home
but once sence the 28 of
June I like to here from home
once and awhile
this leaves me well. except
abad cold I hope theas few
Lines will finde you well
and doing well. Fare well
E. J. Gorham to Mary Ellen Gorham
[page 4]
Direct to Eleazor J. Gorham
1st ohio sharpshooters
Nash ville Tenn
in care lieut Wiliamson. 79. O.V.I
st
Eleazor J. Gorham

wright soon for I want to
here from you all

I will wright to you before longe
and tell you all about things
you must do the same fare well

[2] I hope to be with you some time
again if nothing hapens no more