Willard Templeton Letters

of a song I heard a jolly old fellow sing

"I de radder be a man of credit" "Packing a union gun" "Than be in the army of the Confederate" "Stealing horses and have to run And have to run

I have seen & talked with hundreds of negrows they all say they are well treated well but they want to be free I told them they would have to work as hard if they were free but nig answers "if I am free I work when I please if I don't please I don t work if I sick I rest from what I can an I think the negrows about here are better off than a majority of them them would be if free in the north they are better fed than we are, quite well clothed but still they want to be free & I don't know them I should if in their places & I would be free if I had to beg the rest of my life I send a cent I got at Cincinnati to Emma. & a little trinket I made out of a bean to Franky Emma will have to keep it for him I guess Please send me a silk pockethandkerchiefs I can't get one here but at enormous prices which would not be [hummed?]

We lay close not [firning?] much although we were within 6 rods of the rebel brest works I could see the rebs heads they were as thick as bees around a bee hive they did not fire on us as we came in so we lay down I got A ball went through my pant leg I was also hit in my left arm slightly which lamed it for a few days I am now all right But the mail goes so much sooner than I expected I must close send this letter home if you can, please send me some stampes [page torn - direct?] [Go 2d D 11NHr?] Brigade 2d Div 9 army corps

Please send me a sheet of paper & envelope

[page torn at top] along the [illegible] brook through the oak forest. The rail [illegible] in all directions have taken legs and run away the big oak trees are daily falling and we shall leave a cleared field instead of an unbroken forest. We have cleared a good deal of land since we came south. I have not got my box yet and don't expect to till I get North guess I shall have it expressed to Concord when I get there. I suppose Mary is at home by this time and she has lots of news to tell. I was a little surprised to hear of James marriage although I knew such an event was liable to happen to happen at any time. I hope he has got a good wife, from what I have seen of Leizzie I think she will make him a good wife and the children an excellent mother. I was much pleased to recieve Emma's and Eddie's pictures Emma looks just as I saw her last don't seem to have changed as much as children usually do in a year and 5 months I send two papers in this mail

Wednesday evening

I was interrupted last night and will try and finih this letter this evening. I received Sarah [Brumsill's?] letter dated Jan 26th, containing the thread and so forth for which I am very much obliged. My boots have lasted me very well have had them tapped once paid $1.50. I guess my tapped boots will last me a months We are having very dry and pleas-and weather now, very cold and frosty nights. There is nothing going on in camp except the daily routine of camp duties. Our band has improved so as to play splendidly they furnish us with excellent musict at dress parade and in the evenings

The 9th Army Corps are now camped on about the same space of ground a our brigade occupied at Falmouth it also numbers about the same number of men

The different regiments are camped

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO. Knoxville, Tennessee, Feb. 9, 1864.

GENERAL ORDERS. } No. 18. }

In compliance with orders from the President of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Department and army of the Ohio.

The Departmental Staff will remain unchanged with the folloiwng exceptions:

Major J. F. ANDERSON, Aide-de-Camp, Major E. N. STRONG, Aide-de-Camp, Capt. LOUIS FITZGERALD, Aide-de-Camp, and Capt. GEO. E. GOUBAUD, Aide-de Camp,

Of the Personal Staff of Major General FOSTER, are relieved from duty in this Department.

Major J. A CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant General, Major WM. M. WHERRY Aide-de-Camp, Capt. A. H. ENGLE, Aide-de-Camp, and Capt. G. W. SCHOFIELD, Aide-de-Camp,

Are hereby announced on the Staff of the Major General Commanding, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major General Commanding.

I have to forage for that is buy the provisions for a mess of two officers. Lunt Modeca & the 1st Clerk of the Div Quarter Masters. We have an "intelligent contraband" for cook He was a slave and cooked for his master in the rebel army He left the rebs. a week ago yesterday, wears a regular gray uniform in short he is a good cook and quite an intelligent fellow. He seems to like Yanks better than rebs. I want Mary to send me some white thread some black linen thread pins & some busware (a small piece)

Mary I want you to write me often perhaps I can get some of them I will try and write oftener We move so much it keeps me busy most of the time

Your Willard

9 AM Thursday morn

No mail going out yesterday I will write another half sheet this morning

As I write I can hear the drums of the 2d Mich Reg and 29th Mass reinlisted vetrans, they have just broke camp and are starting for home. These boys have been out over two years they feel good this morning, their march will not be a weary one.

We hope some of these morning to start northward. At this moment the band of the 1st Div. to which these Regiments belong have just struck up "Kingdom comm" they play for the homeward bound boys. Our band will go home with the 11th Col Colins has confidence enough that we go home to invite the band to go with us.

Col C. is now commanding 2d brigade consisting of 35 Mass & 11 NH. Gen Wilcox who commanded the corps at Falmouth now commands 2d div. of three Reg. or

[page turned upside down] getting better and will join the Reg soon he is now at the Hospital in Knoxville W. J. Templeton

about 1000 men Capt. Cogswell is Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen on Col Colins staff Josept A Modica who was our Orderly sergeant is now 1st Lieutenant and Commands Co. D. I now stop with him and enjoy the conveniences of an offiers tent besides have plenty to eat and good as the country affords. I have a horse to forage with (that is go out in the country and buy eatables. I bot a bushel of potatose $3.00 the other day corn is selling at from $1 to 3 per bush. Our mail man has just brought me in 1 lb of cooking soda he bought it in Knoxville I paid him $2 for the lb. I should send for some in a letter but undoubtedly we shall be on our way north before a letter could reach me. I suppose we stop here for the name of the 9th Corps will do much towards keeping Longstreet away from Knoxville. These two Reg go via Chatt -anooga. When we go we go with a rush I reckon via Chattonooga probably march to London or Kingston then take the boats or cars for Chattonoooga thence by rail to N--- no matter where if we only go and the going is only a question of time. But we are dreadful uneasy staying here. Hillsboro boys all well except [Tiba?] Wood who has been very sick but is now

along with us we have that evry few days You may send me out about a dollar in "scrip' if you can get it is hard buying any thing for want of change When you write put in one stamp at a time & then they won't stick. send me out some black peper & some cloves if you could fill up a little paper bol it would not cost much I got a paper last night from you & a letter from C M.Clintock & John Lymonds he has enlisted in the 112 Reg OM. Vol. Co. A. Camp Butt Springfield Ill. The ordr has come at last to march at last it is 1 oclock.

Nov. 7th We marched 13 miles yesterday [Pat?] camped about 8 oclock It is very col now but we manage to keep pretty warm. I want you to write [ofan?] for I can't as we marching [illegible] evry day. I expect we are going to Gas[ten?]- -ville where we expect to meet the Rebels We feel greatly rejoiced that our troops are [shiving?] the rebels I think if the rains hold off we shall [fire?] the Rebels