Nashvill Ten. Dec 10^th

62
Dear Uncle
Again after a long
Space of time I take my pen
to give you the news of
the day in this vacinaty
and of my where abouts &c&c
We are camped in about
three miles of Nashvill on what
is called the Murfreesboro
pike which is south of the
city. The rebels are in about
Murfreesboro in strong force
their advance is in eight miles
of our front – mor or less of
Murfreesboro We have an
occasional skirmish with
them among our pickets
Yesterday McCooks Divishion
which is on the right of
[page 2]
our army here had quite a lively
engagement the particulars I
have not yet learned I think
that it was quite warm as
there was two divishions sent
to relieve him. They are engaged
now as I am writing I can occa=
sionaly hear the thunder of the
artilery we have a large force
here large enough I think to
flax out any reble army in
the western army I think
Uncle that this war will close
This winter say about next
May proberbly January what
do you think about it let me
know in your next,, The health of
our army here is generaly very
good the measols are quite
bad among some of the new
recruits
[page 3]
Every thing is very dear here butter
is one dollar a pound potatoes
are when you can get them two
and half dollars per bushel
bread such as you get in old
Indiana for five cents is 15.
a loaf every thing else in purpotion
I would like very much to
take a seat at your table again
and have a good meal You can
hardly immiagin how tired a
soldier gets of his rations which
are allways the same that is hard
bread and sow bellie coffee
beans sugar if we had a change
it would be quite different
I am getting tired of this war
not so much from the hardships
which I have to under go but
it is breaking down my con-
stitution like most all others –
[page 4]
I have not heard any thing of
my brother William for a long
time not since I have been in
the army except – once my uncle
John Sutherland once got a letter
from him which was some
10 months ago have you heard
any thing from him let me know
I must clous by requesting you
to give my best respects to
Mary and Nancy and if you
see Junaita Smith tell her that
I write her a letter as soon as I
seal this I hope you will answer
this soon
Your Afct Nef
ES Milroy
S Milroy Esq