Camp near knoxville oct the 29th 62
Dear pa as I have and
opportunity of sending you a letter
I thought that I would write you
a few lines I received your letter
day before yesterday you do not
know how glad I was to hear
from youal and to hear that
you were all well I am well
and have been ever since I wrote although
I have seen a hard time we have
marched about 600 miles some
time without any thing to eat
some times we had to go 4 days
on 2 days rashions but we are
getting a plenty now we have
had to or three little fights on our
way but I have not had a sc[????]
yet and I hope that I never
will I am verry sorry to hear
that General [Jacksons?] army was
cut up so but I hope that it is
not as bad as we herd we herd
[page 2]
that his army was cut al to
pieces that they were ten to
one of our men killed to one
of the enemy I hope that is not
so we had a very heavy snow
day before yesterday we had
a tolerable hard time th[en?]
we had to be out without
any tents now I reckoned that you
all think that it strange to hear
of snow this soon I do not know
where we will go to from here some
thinks that we will go to Virginia
and some thinks that we will
go and try to take Nashville
and into winter quarters
I hope that we will get back
in Missippi I am very glad
that to hear that the Children
are going to school I wish
that I was there to go with them
you must save some per[????]
[page 3]
perhaps then I will have
and opportunity of geting
home before long. Dear ma
as Mr. Roach [1] is going home to
get clothing for the Company
and you will have a chance
of sending them I will let you know
wat I want I want 2 pare of
pance 2 over shirts 2 undershirts
2 pare drawers 3 pare socks 1 pare
blankets 1 pare gloves and comfort and
2 colored handerchief I have
nothing more youre affectionate
son B F Gentry