Letter from Orlando L. French to Lydia French

Head qrs 75th [?] On the [?] Pike 8 Miles from Nashville

Dec 16 '64

Dear Wife

After two days hard fighting we have routed the enemy & they are in full retreat A Glorious Victory is ours We charged two lines of works yesterday capturing many prisoners - this [Sgt?] with two others taking nearly a thousand with one Brig. Gen & four pieces of Artillery

Our loss very small. [two?] (2) killed in [Co 'J'?] & two ([2) wounded in Co. "C" also Capt R L [?] in Co "G" slightly wounded

I am all right - [?] feel first rate only tired - for which I have great cause to be thankful - the bullets flew thick & fast & the army stuck to their works until we were right on to them - send this to the folks in the prairie for I shall not have time to write

them

We do not think they will show fight this side of Franklin

Good bye dear one

Orlando

The Major says, tell Mrs Watson the he & Jo are all right