January 30, 1863 



Louden, Tennesee 



Dear wife, I take my pen in 

 iiand to let you l<now that I 

 am well at this time. Hoping 

 those few lines may come 

 safe to hand and find you 

 and the children and all the 

 rest well and doing well. I have 

 nothing of importance to write 

 to you. I received two letters from 

 you stating that you was 

 well. I was glad to hear it. I 

 wrote you a letter dated the 17 of 

 this instant with 50 cents in 

 it. Write whether you got it or 

 not. Our captain has resigned 

 and is going home shortly. He is 

 going to sell his horses. I will 

 be afoot. Write to me whether 

 you could do without old Darb 

 or not. In haste, I can buy one 

 here by paying a big price. I don't 

 want to disfurnish you. I expect 



so I could give it to you. 



I want you to write what arrangements 



you have made about 



salt. I sent 5 dollars off to 



get 50 pounds of salt for you. 



I told mother to get it and pay 



for the hauling and save it for 



you. She said she would do so. I gave 



Mike an order to draw your 20 pounds. 



He said he would do so. We are 



stationed here at Louden. I don't 



know how long we will stay here. 



We have got good tents. We 



get plenty of corn bread and 



beef and bacon, rice, sugar, and 



salt peas. We fare pretty well here. 



I want you to write to me where 



Washington is stationed at and 



how to direct a letter to him 



and also Peter the same. 



Did you hear taht Peters regiment 



was taken prisoners or did you 



our battalion (?). Tom Satefield heard 



Peter Mack Danel (McDaniel ?) will be 

 our captain. You wrote to me to 

 write to you the straight of that 

 little rally that our boys had 

 across the mountain. They had 

 been out on a scout and lay 

 down and took their rest and 

 did not put out any pickets 

 and the yankees came on them 

 next morning and fired on them 

 while they was getting their 

 breakfast and charged upon 

 them and took about 50 of 

 them prisoners and about 60 

 horses. They got Bill Hulander, 

 Columbus Spurlin (Spurling ?) and killed 

 Joe Saterfieid and the sargent 

 major. I could name several others 

 but these were in our settlement. 

 They was but 2 killed. I would 

 send you some money but I 

 am afraid to risk it. I would 

 be glad that I could see you 



from Jim. He said nothing about 

 it. Write to me whether the old 

 man bought that place or not 

 and whether you are going to stay 

 in the house with your father 

 or not. I want the boys to work good 

 and make a big pile of corn 

 and ask me to the shucking. 

 Sarah, I saw your old man. He 

 is well. Catherine, send me them 

 watch keys if you please. I have 

 Got a watch and no key. I can't 

 but nary key. I have tried every 

 place. Send me that watch cord 

 the first chance and buy that 

 locket and send It too. Catherine, 

 I would be glad the war 

 would stop so I could come home 

 and stay with you. I am in 

 hopes the time will soon roil 

 'round. Direct your letter to Louden, 

 Tennesee. Nothing more at present, 

 only remains yours. C. D. Epps 



