Memphis tennessee Nov ^the 24^th 1862

Catherine I will write you a few lines to let you know
that I am well at this time William Lyons & Henderson
has both had the measles they both was taken sick on the
boat and was left at the hospital in town I have just
been out to see them they are both getting nearly well
and will be out in a few days they had the measles
tolerable bad they have had a good place to stay at and good care
taken of them it is thought we will soon leave here if
we do the boys will be left here for they cant march
with us yet I do not know where we will go some thinks
we will go to holly springs some says we will go to
vicks Burg and some think we will go in to the fort in
sight of this place but we do not know where we are
going until we have got there and the word comes to unsling
knap sacks and pich tents then it looks like a town in a few
minuets I like camp life first rate I can eat any thing that
comes to hand I have never missed a meal yet we left
eleven of our boys at Louisville in the hospital and there
is twelve of them here in the hospital which make twenty
3 men out of our company all sick with the measles or
Mumps I think the other companies left as many men as we did
there has none of ours died yet as I have heard there
has been two or thre deaths in the others companies but
I did not know the men that died yesterday was Sunday
and I went to look at the Memphis Burying ground there
I saw a sight I will never forget I saw at least
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One thousand new graves that the grass had never
growed over it is the Burying ground of Rebbels and
union men that has died a bout this place there is a
road left be tween them every grave is numbered
be sides the soldiers graves all the people that die in
memphis is laid here there is nearly eighty acres
covered with graves and to see the Monument over
the graves of the rich is a sight to look at
the people here all say they are for the union but I do
not be leave there is any union men here except the soldiers
the sight of seventy thousand soldiers makes them say what
they do this is a nice place to live the climate is mild here
there was a little skift of snow here the time you had snow
there but since then we have had nice weather there is a
good deal of cotton raised around here One day later the
talk is this morning that we will go to Jackson Mississippi
one hundred and sixty miles from here it will take us a bout
sixteen days to make the trip if we go there we will be
apt to get a sight of the rebels I think there will be some
fighting done before long the union troops is still comeing in
here yet. I met with two of Wiate Atkins Boys yesterday they are
in the sixth Ioa regt vol they told me they got a letter
from home a few days ago wich stated that uncle john Bulleck
was not expected to live he had the fever <Man?> & Jack had both
been very bad off with the fever but was getting better. <????>
is gone to the war and <????> <???> has gone to uncle Johns to wait on
him this country looks like the withering hand of god was plased
on it for there is lots of houses here that is left and the fences
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all burned and there has not been a night since we have been
here but what there has been some houses burnt last night
there was seven houses burned I be leave the soldiers will
destroy the place if they stay here long be cause they know
it is a cecesh place things is high here we have to pay
one dollar and a half for to bacco and five sents a pice for
apples and one dollar Per quart for whiskey and every thing
els in proportion we draw plenty to eat yet but we
may get scears when we start to march I want to get
to see the country as much as I can I am learning to blow
the fife I do not have to carry a gun so I get clear of a bout
fifteen Pounds that the rest has to carry I do not hear but
little talk here about peace I think there will be some hard
fighting done yet Catherine I have not heard from you since
I left Louisville Ky severel of the boys has got letters since
we come here I know you have wrote but the letters has not
come to hand yet I will not get uneasy a bout home for that
would do no good I wait with patience for a leter from you
when you do write to me write a big letter this may be the
last letter you may get from me for some time if we
leave here I will not write until we sto p then you should
hear from me a gain it may be difficult to send a letter
home when we get so far down in dixi you must not believe
all the nuse you hear about soldiers getting taken prisners
and Regtments being cut up until you know it is so for
such <men?> is all wais going to make women uneasy a bout
there men I have saw severel men that was taken Prisners
by the Rebbels and was treated well the word has come
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sence I have been writing to draw two days rations
and cook them and put them in our nap sacks and
be ready to march to morrow but I do not know
where to the smoke will soon be gin to raise from
camp fires cooking our grub for the camp all is in
a bustle and <???> for a fight
I will have to quit writing I have wrot so much this
time and such bad writing you will have to get Jane to
read it I would like to see you but we are about seven
hundred miles a part and will soon be fur ther when
I get back home I can tell some big tales that I have
seen the Darkeys is comeing in to our camp wanting to
hire to cook for us there is a good many hired in this Regt
but none in this company

Tell all the neigh bors that I am well and hearty
William is not very well he has got a very bad cold
and I think he had better stay here and come with the
other boys when they get able to come I was not
stout when I was at home but you cant pick out
a man that has stood the camp better than me
John Miller is well James clift is not stout

Let me here from you and my <sweet?> little children
as often as you can tell your father to write to us tell
dad to write to me tell him to take my mule home
as soon as kirk gets done with her I will send my fife
to <???> that I drawed to keep til I come home
Hugh Gaston to Catherine Gaston