[page 1]
Camp 45th Ala regt April 14th 1863 Tullahoma Tn
Dear "folks at home”
Your kind letters and Mr Culver
got here day before yesterday. I have been so very
busy every since that I could not get time to
answer until now, and I am afraid I shall have to
make a short answer yet. for the last week
or two we have been drilled, reviewed and inspected
almost incessantly, and I am indebted now to a
friendly rain for the present chance to write
Every thing sent by Mr Culver came safely, with the
slight exception of a few eggs broken, and a very few of the
potatoes. Somebody cut the bag and got out a few before
it was discouvered but very few may be half a dozen
I am very much obliged for the articles sent for
I am beginning to need them. I will try and send
back by Mr Culver some clothing that I will not need
during the summer. In regard to the box that was
broken open and for which you send me the express
receipt, I am sorry to say I had receipted for before
I discouvered that it had been broken open and
if I had not, I have no chance to attend to it
and must lose it. I send you back the receipt
I have now clothing enough to last me some
time. I hope with maybe a pair or two of socks
I can make out the summer
I am tolerably well bodily, but I am afraid
my blues and despondency grow worse. Every
movement and action of the Government seems to
indicate a long war, and everything looks dark
[page 2]
and gloomy. I believe the army now is more
dissatisfied and desponding than I have ever known it
Every body that can is getting out of the service
by putting in substitutes, because every one believes that
it will last a long time. My strong hope is
that this is the dark hour that comes just before
day, and that the Almighty Hand that now scourges
will shortly bless. May God grant it, and strengthen
our Trust in Him. How I want to be at home
You may rest assured that home is now fully
appreciated and that if I ever get so I can stay
at home again I will stay even if it is a very humble
one. I know Fannie that your situation is a very responsible one
our little children's character is to be formed by your training
I have implicit confidence in you and know that if you
err atall it will not be from the heart, and I do trust that
we will yet sit under our own vine and fig tree. The
honest heads of an honest family still trusting in the One that
doeth all things well
There has just passed the camp about 20 Yankee
prisoners taken at Franklin. I wish I could have got
to talked[?] with them, but could not as they passed right
along in the rain. Poor fellows. They see hard times too
and I believe would willingly go home and let us alone
if they could. Mrs Gaffney has written me a very
hard letter and did I not consider her berieved and
distressed condition, I should not trouble myself any further
with her affairs. It was all I could do to keep from getting
mad and writing a letter fully as hard as hers
I have answered her but did it as mildly
[page 3]
as I could. I am confident that somebody
has been pouring scandal in her ears, and I think
I have a good idea who it is. If I am right
in my opinion it is one that can do me no harm
among good people, if he is properly known, and
if I knew it was him, they should know him. (I allude
to the man Fannie about whom I wrote you a few days ago)
I believe that Dr Smith is going to get entirely
well here and yet make a good soldier. he has
not missed a days duty since he has been here, and
looks much better than at first I have received
no letter from Fate for some time, and I have
not from your Ma Fannie since I wrote to her
Fannie please write me all about the place
that Geo Colquitt wants to sell May be it would
suit us. Brownfield tells me that he has sold the Shields
place and the Tobacco, and talks like it might be
proper to invest what money we had in the Colquitt place
and asks me if I want it. I don't know what to
tell him. I do want about that much land if it
is good and we can pay for it but I do not
want an old poor place that we cannot make a
living on. The above[?] you had but say nothing about yet
I have good reason to believe that the Dr will treat me right
in the management of our concern affairs
And Ma if you need anything at any
time in the way of money, or any thing that
I can furnish, you will oblige me if you will let
me know it. I have directed Brownfield to respect an
order from you, just the same as if it was from
[page 4]
me. You need not have paid your accounts
if you had any use for the money and you
may rest assured that I would be very unhappy
did I think you suffered for any thing that I
could furnish. If there is any good in me I owe
it all to you for your kind training put it
there and what evil there is in my nature you
are not responsible for because you invariably
reproved it.
Sister thank you for your letter. Wish I could see your
Baby-Boy. Nick - Nick never would write me the letter
I requested. Well I hope we will have a chance to
talk it all over some day.
And Em Where is the long letter you promised
me, eh? You had better write it pretty soon
and tell me what those other imperative reasons
were. Fannie never let more that 5 or 6 days pass
without writing. I hope I will see you all some
day and that that day may not be far distant
We are in the hands of God
Yours Truly
G.W. Cherry
May God bless our children
