December 23, 1997 Notes on Civil War letters of David K. Newhouse to Susan Newhouse While transcribing the original letters I have tried to reproduce them as accurately as possible, including spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes. Although I tried to check them carefully, there may still be mistakes that I created. It was interesting to me to see that David consistently used the very old “fs” spelling where we now use “ss”. When I could not tell for sure what a word or number was, I have indicated that by putting the word and a “?” in parentheses or just a “?” in parentheses. I hope this doesn’t cause confusion for anyone. After re-reading all of these and the page of the history of the 101st Ohio Infantry I am very confused about the date of the first letter. It appears to clearly say “May” either 4th or 14th but that doesn’t seem to make sense with the next few letters. The next is dated Sept. 5th. In that letter David describes arriving at Camp Stem, but in the “May” letter he tells about being at Camp Stem. Most important, according to the page about the 101st, it says that the Regiment was organized August 30, 1862, so he couldn’t have been in it in May, and the letter clearly gives that as his address. So, either the letter date is wrong or the history page is wrong – probably the letter date. I hope you enjoy reading the letters. I also included the page on the 101st Ohio Infantry I already mentioned, and a page on the battle of Stones River, where David Newhouse was killed on December 31, 1862. Gail Willett ******************************************************** Camp Crab Orchard on Dix River, Oct. 16th, 1862 Dear Companion We are now encamped at this place where there is millions of Soldiers. we expected to leave here this morning but have not left yet we don’t know what minute we will leave tho. we was all tired when we arrived here on the evening of the 14th. I would like to see the Boys since they have bin Drafted. I expect they feel pretty bad about it but they have just as good a right to fight for their country as I have. I suppose you are satisfied now that I left since so many are being drafted. of course you want me at home but I want you to content yourself for I am well satisfied I got in the regiment I did we have a good regiment of boys as ever could be scared up and there will be more drafting done yet so I should have had to of went at any rate. We have traveled every day more or less every day except 2 or 3 since the first day of October. We are now within 75 or 80 miles of Cumberland gap we expect to go on till we get there tho it is hard telling where we will go. I suppose you know what division and brigade we are in so you can tell about where we are going. I wrote to Harriet yesterday and told her who our officers is and what division we are in. I want you to write often and tell a good lot every time. tell William Bryant to write and I will answer his letter. I would like to know how he likes his teem he has to work with. When you write again tell me something about the crops of corn and potatoes whether they amount to anything or not. I have not got time nor space to write all I would like to but shall close for this time by informing you that I am well at present and hope this may find you the same. I never had better health in my life than I have had in the army. I would weigh considerably more now than when I left home. No more at present but remain yours forever D.K. Newhouse Direct to Co K 101 Reg OVI via Louisville ************************************ Camp Gilbert, Indiana, Sept 26th 1862 Dear Companion We are now at Jeffersonville, Indiana. we arrived here the day before yesterday. We left Camp Stem the 23 inst. (?) in the evening and came over to Cincinnati . we arrived there about midnight and lade there in the cars (?) til the morning when we started for Louisville Kentucky . after a long car ride we arrived at Jeffersonville Indiana. we expect this morning to go over the river to Louisville which is a short distance from here. The rebels had allowed to take Louisville but when they come and found about two hundred thousand men here they thought it would not be best to undertake it. they are now on the retreat and our force is afollowing them. General Buel is only 12 miles from us at this time. I would like to see some of his boys. We have some fine times we are close to the river and see all the steamboats that passes. I am well at present and hope this may find you enjoying the same You must write soon. Direct to Camp Gilbert Ind 101 Regt OVI via Cin No more at present but remain yours D.K.Newhouse PS excuse me for not writing more this time for I must bundle up pretty soon to go We will have some big times today crossing the river we have some first rate Boys you had better believe ************************************ Camp in the Woods, Dec. 14, 1862 Dear Companion I received a letter from you yesterday evening with a lot of postage stamps. I was vary glad to get them for I only had one left and it is almost impossible getting any here. I could send letters home without stamps but I hate to do so and another thing I don’t believe they would be as sure to come through. Now you can get letters just as fast as I get time to write them. We are now about 6 miles frome Nashville in a pleasant grove. We have a vary nice Camp and we keep it swep as clean as any dore yard you ever seen. You stated in your letter that Ebersole sayed we had to lay out without tents and was used worse than Dumb broots and that every person in the Regt. pretty near was sick. Of course some of the boys is sick and we have 3 boys of our company burried. but the Regt. is in pretty good health now. The boys feels first rate and if you was here some evenings and see the boys cutup you would think so for we have Some the best times that is going. I dont know what made Ebersole say we had to lay out for we have had large tents for 2 months to sleep in and now we have small shelter tents that we carry when we go out Skirmishing or picketing in rany wether large enough for 2 soldiers to sleep in. We have large tents in camp and small tents when we go out, and that is more than any other regiment ever had. The small tents is vary light, a person can carry one on one finger and when it commenses to rain he can put it up in 2 minutes and keep dry. We are just as well as any other regiment in service since we stopped marching so hard. We have plenty to eat and good clothes to ware we are drawing new clothes every day now. We have all got new new drefs coats and the most of the boys have new black pants and the rest will get theirs soon. We draw flour, crackers, light-Bread, molases, coffee, tea, sugar, salt, fresh Beef, salt-pork, Beens & rice and any person cant live on Such fare as that had aught to starve. for my part I have no reason to complain of our treatment in the least. And if you hear folks talk about the 101st being used like dumb Broots, you tell them what I sayed about it for every word I say is true and you may depend upon it. I would not tell you so unlefs it was so. Now for my sake dont believe any such stuff till you write to me and then you can depend what I tell you is so for you know all such reports going through the country has no foundation to them. I found out long ago that anything the union folks done was rong in old uncle Petes opinion and they just rase such stuff to make folks uneasy Milton Ebersole is laying sick in Nashville I guefs he is vary bad. I have not herd frome him for over a week we have a vary poor chance to hear he is at a private House and the teemsters cant find him. and I cant get a pafs to go and see him. Peter Crome (?) is there in a Hospital he is getting well and will soon join his Company again. the Boys that is in the company that is well is agetting as fat as hogs. They all say I am getting fatter every day. I wouldn’t wonder for I feel just as good as I ever did in my life time. No wonder tho, for we have nothing to do but Drill a little and the rest of the time cook and Eat. You stated in your other letter you saw some slays pafs the road. You sayed you thought it was pretty dry bobin. I think dry bobing would be better than no bobin atall. You must keep in good heart like I do and all things will come right. You sayed the time seemed long to you this winter and I dont wonder if it did. It is quite different in the army we have lots of company here and time passes vary fast. I have just received another letter from you this minute and was glad to hear you was all well You must no think that I could of bin at home as handy as not for I should have bin drafted without any doubt. then to pay 3 or 4 hundred dollars for a substitute and yet not be clear of draft would not pay vary well I think, for just as sure as this war dont close before 3 months there will be twice the amount drafted that was the other time. and if it lasts over 6 months they will draft out every devil that is able to go. or at least I hope they will. I would like to see some folks marching down here that is talking so big back there it would do me a great deal of good. I bet when this war ends these boys I speak of is the vary fellows that will say I knowed we could whip them. There is nosings of any fighting this winter here and I guefs we will stay about here or some place not far off We may move frequently for the health of the Regt. but that is all the marching I think we will do. for your benefit I will just say we are in Rosencranses army, McCooks Corps, Davises Division, Carlins Brigade. We are in the 14th Corps, 31st Brig., and 9th Division. I am well at present and hope this will find you the same. I wish you would write me abig letter and tell me all about the Babies and little George you have never mentioned his name yet. Tell him I want him to learn fast this winter and write me a letter in a few weeks. I shall write again in a day or two. No more at present but remain yours forever D.K.Newhouse ******************************* Camp near Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 8th, 1862 Dear Companion We are now within 8 (?) miles of Nashville. laying in a nice camp resting ourselves and having a good time in general we arrived here yesterday evening about 3 o’clock we expect to stay here a few days although we may leave tomorrow or we may stay here for two weeks we cannot tell I received no letters for a long while until we arrived at Bolin Green then on the evening of the 3rd of Nov. I received 2 frome you and on the 4th I received one frome you and one frome Wm. Bryant that had bin laying someplace on the rode then on the 5th Thomas Stevens came up and I received those Likenefses and mittens all right and also a letter frome you. I was awful glad to get your Pictures you had better believe and the mittens comes in good these cold mornings although I have a pair of good Buckskin gloves. I guefs you have plenty to eat at home or Mandy would not look so fat. Tell Amandy I say her picture looks as though she was mad about something. I had not received any letters for so long I began to think you had sent your Likenefses by Mail and they had bin lost, but one morning about 5 o’clock I received them with great surprise not expecting anything of that kind. I should like to have Harvie’s Likenefs yet. as good a pictures as the rest is then I would be pretty well set up I wish you would get it taken on leather and send it to me you certainly can get it in some shape that would look like little harvey anyhow. I would like to get almost any kind of picture try your best and oblige me your friend You could not believe how glad I felt when I saw your Pictures as natural as life Could be. I hope it wont be many months till this thing will be settled so we can all arive safe at home to those loved ones left behind. But I want this war to come to a close before we come home so we can stay at home in peace when we do come. You stated in your letter Something about selling Nants. Now if you can along without her or if William can work the colts perhaps it would be best to sell her. If you do, get as mutch as you can for her and let her go I am satisfied for my part. Either get the money for her or a note on some good man with security so you can pay some of the debts with it. Now use your own pleasure Sell her if you can do without her and I will be glad of it. Keep her colt awhile I want him when I come home for to ride. No more at present but remain yours forever D.K.Newhouse P.S. The order is now for our Regt. to go back about 12 miles into the mountains tomorrow on picket. There is some bushwhackers there that disturbs our teams as they pafs through with provision. They tried us a (rip?) when we came through but they soon got enough of it. our cavalry killed a lot of them and made them Skedadle. I saw one rebel Devil laying dead in the road that had just gafsped his last. but that was nothing to what I saw at the battle of chaplin hills where they lay as thick as they Could lay. Some places 4 or 5 right together. Lots of places I could stand and count thirty or forty frome one place. No more Just 10 0’clock at night Please send me Harvie’s likenefs if you can We are in the 31st Brigade Commanded By Carlin 9th Division “ “ Jeff C. Davis 14th Corps “ “ McCook The army of the Cumberland Com By Rosencrantz ________________________________________________________________________21st Illinois Regt. 38th (?) “ “ (or 80 something?) 15th Wisconsin “ and the 101 Bloody Tigers constitutes the 31st Brigade ***************************************** Camp on Cumberland River Nov. 19th 1862 Dear Companion I received a letter frome you yesterday and was sorry to hear that you was so much out of heart and discontented. I always thought that you was getting along so well and was pretty well contented considering your circumstances but on receiving your last letter I was shocked to think that you was so much out of heart. You must cheer up and be contented as much as possible It is impossible for me to come home at present under any circumstances but I think we will all be home in the Spring and that is not vary long now anymore. I should like to be at home with you. that you know vary well. I would like to see the babies and you but I cannot at present. It is if no use for you to try to get me home for I cant come. Money wont do any good that I am sure. You should not think of the like if you would give the farm it could not excuse me frome service. and another thing I have bin so well contented and liked Soldiering so well and always thought by your letters you was getting along first rate. you stated you could never hear frome me I cannot tell why for I have wrote two or more letters every week when it was possible for me to do so. Now for my sake do not be disencouraged but remember I am your friend. I feel just as safe here as at home, we are in a good place guarding the railroad. we expect to go to Nashville Some of these days where we can have a pretty good time I think the probability is we will stay around here sometime. We have traveled about five hundred miles since we left Louisville and now it is our turn to rest awhile and guard places and let the rest march awhile and do some fiting if there is any to do I think tho there wont be much fiting anymore we have to many men in the field for the rebbels to stand much fiting. We are getting them prety well surrounded on all sides or at least they (slope, slohe ?) before our army as fast as we move. If the army advances as fast for the next 3 months as they have for the last 3 the rebels will be glad to settle on most any terms. The citizens here think this war must come to a close shortly. Our Colonel says he would not be a bit afraid to insure us we would all be on our rode home in three months, and that is the general opinion of the people here. They may all be mistaken but I hope they are right. Now do be contented and write often for I like to receive letters frome you. Tell your Pap and Harriet to write to me for I long to receive letters frome them. No more at present but remain yours Forever D.K.Newhouse Notes from edges of letter: You sold doll pretty well Sell what you can do without and use the money right I am well and hoe this may find you enjoying the same I would not be satisfied to give what we are worth to bring me home. Save all your money and let me stay till I can come home without any trouble to you or me Tell William to write me a letter Write often and oblige me ***************************************** Camp Stem Ky. , Sept. 5th, 1862 Dear Companion It is with pleasure I embrace the present opportunity of enforming you that I am well and have never had Better health in my life than I have had Since I commenced Camp life. I could not get a furlow as I expected nor I couldnt get my likenefs taken I got a pafs to town before we left Camp Monroevill but couldnt get it taken they was too busy but I think I can get it taken yet and send it home We started frome Camp Monroevil on the 4th of September at about 11 oclock AM and arived at Cincinnatti on the next morning about 8 oclock we pafsed through Tiffin and early about one or two oclock on the same day. I expected to see some of the boys in Tiffin when we pafsed through Tiffin. But I could not see any of them. We got our dinners in Cincinnati and then got on a Steamboat and crofsed the Ohio river into Kentucky we landed in Covington and then proceeded to Camp Stem about 4 miles frome Cincinatti the rebels drove the pickets in a day or two ago about six miles frome our camp but I guefs they wont disturb us. There is about 20 thousen men in Sight of us and we have entrenchments dug so they cant fase us we have an awful lot of cannons here. I cant tell you how many. There is about 15 or 16 thousand men a few miles frome here they cant disturb Cincinatti I bet. This is an awful place here it is awful hilly we camp on a little hill that is almost too small for the regiment to camp on every regiment has his own Camp and name it I received a letter frome you this evening and was glad to here frome you and here you was in Such good Spirits I suppose you did not think I would receive your letter in Kentucky when you wrote it but it got there pretty soon after I did. excuse me for this letter it is dark I cant write any more yours forever David K. Newhouse Direct to DK Newhouse Camp Stem Ken. 101st Reg. In care of Capt Nobles *************************************************** Camp Stem Kentucky Sunday Morning May 14 /62 Dear Companion I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you the same. I hope you are enjoying yourself as well as I am. It is vary hilly here where we are we have no tents here yet we lay out on the ground but it is vary dry here it has not rained here for about four months the boys have some good times they fetch in all the Sweet potatoes we can eat Me and a lot more of the boys went to a farm house and took all the peaches and pears we could eat out of a lot of vessels where they had them in the Cellar and them telling us to stay out. We tore down more than two hundred rods of bord fence for to build tents for our Baggage should it Rane. I dont believe there will ever be any fiting here for there is too many men here they are a coming in by the thousands every day We are under the command of general Lew. Wallace. I saw him on yesterday for the first Now in regard to that money I sent home. I sent 10 dollars with Simpson and 60 with O. Ebersole. Pay for that pump first then pay Father what I promised to pay him now Keep enough for yourself of course and then pay Kenower the rest you can spare and let him credit it on account. (?) tell R. Davy to come and get that wheat I Borrowed of him. I cant think of anything more to tell you at present. if you want to know any thing particular you must write. No more about that Direct you letters D K Newhouse Camp Stem Ken 101 Reg O.V.I. in care of Capt Nobles via Cincinnati No more at present Yours forever D.K. Newhouse **************************************** Camp Stem, Ken., Sept. 15th, AD 1862 Dear Wife and Babies I take the present time to inform you that I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you enjoying the same. We have just come back to camp. we have bin out to the Breastworks and on picket and scouting for 3 or 4 days the rebels advanced with their force and drove our pickets within ½ mile of our breastworks our regiment went out yesterday morning with several others and drove them back about 6 miles. They left shoes kettles Buckets pans and even Beef cooking in their camps. I don’t think they can do much here. Several other regiments lost a man or two but our regiment has not lost a man yet. there has bin lots of rebels taken prisoners and sent off. A man frome Tiffin came here to see us, he herd the 101 was all cut to pieces but it is all a lie. We expect to leave here pretty soon We have fine times, plenty to eat and nothing to do I wish you could get your likenefs and the babies taken in a double case. Yours in one side and theirs in the other and send it to me. I would like to have them awful well right now. I shal Send mine home as soon as I can. Tell all the boys to write to me. I like to read letters that comes frome home first rate I want you to write and let me know how things are a getting along at home. you must not think we need for anything we have lots of good clothes to keep us dry and warm and plenty of good eatables. We have nothing to complain of, we are used ten times better than I ever thought we would be. a man that complains at this will complain at anything. We are all well pleased with the officers for a better lot of men never was found than the officers in this regiment. write soon Yours forever D.K.Newhouse Direct to Camp Stem Ken Co. K. 101 Reg O.V.I. In care of Capt Nobles Via Cincinatti ***************************************** December 21, 1862 Dear Companion it is with pleasure I set down this sabath eve to inform you that we are all well at presant and I hope these poorly riten lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. I heard today that you was all formed in line of batle some time ago and I supose you have had some fighting since I heard from you last for I have not had a letter from you for near a week if only I could get about two letters a week from you then I could content myself a little beter than I do (so?) I feel kind of bad tonight and shal till I receive a letter from you. I asked little Amandia what I should tell you for her she sayed I should tell you to come home she would like to see him. and we would all like to see you again it semes to me like a year almost since you left home. They have a great time in independence now they have got old beader chance to lecture for them they was all up there last night and today to hear him but me. he is agowing to lecture there for a week I believe. I wish you was here then we could go to. I have been to meeting once since you left home. it is not mutch comfort for me to go any place now but I hope the time (haint?) far distant till you will be here with me again so we can live lovely like we always have done if we are ever spared to meet again. No more at presant from a friend and lover Yours forever Susan Newhouse (This letter was written by Susan to David but not received. It was returned to Susan by Lt. Cline.) ********************************************* December 21, 1862 Dear Companion it is with pleasure I set down this sabath eve to inform you that we are all well at presant and I hope these poorly riten lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. I heard today that you was all formed in line of batle some time ago and I supose you have had some fighting since I heard from you last for I have not had a letter from you for near a week if only I could get about two letters a week from you then I could content myself a little beter than I do (so?) I feel kind of bad tonight and shal till I receive a letter from you. I asked little Amandia what I should tell you for her she sayed I should tell you to come home she would like to see him. and we would all like to see you again it semes to me like a year almost since you left home. They have a great time in independence now they have got old beader chance to lecture for them they was all up there last night and today to hear him but me. he is agowing to lecture there for a week I believe. I wish you was here then we could go to. I have been to meeting once since you left home. it is not mutch comfort for me to go any place now but I hope the time (haint?) far distant till you will be here with me again so we can live lovely like we always have done if we are ever spared to meet again. No more at presant from a friend and lover Yours forever Susan Newhouse (This letter was written by Susan to David but not received. It was returned to Susan by Lt. Cline.) ********************************************* Camp at Edgefield, Tennessee Nov. 25, 1862 We are Now in camp in a pleasant grove at edgefield just across the river frome Nashville. I have not bin over on the other side of the river yet but we can see the statehouse frome where we are vary plain. Nashville is a vary large town but there is not much businefs a going on in it at present the citizens has to keep cool they cant pafs out any road or crofs any bridge without a pafs frome a General. They have to nuckle under to just whatever a soldier says to them. (We will train them.) The 21st Regt. lies just on the other side of Nashville from where we are Westly Bradford has joined his regiment. he came over and stayed all night and eat breckfast with me. he looks hearty to what some of our boys do. I am agoing to try to get a pafs and go over to the 21st regt. and see some of the Boys. I saw Abe Brown & Steve leonard yesterday. Everything is vary high here. Butter is one Dollar a pound and salt is seventy five dollars per barrel potatoes 4 Dollars per (bucket, bushel?) and everything else in proportion. Now you may imagine how the citizens of nashville live, this is a splendid country here there is some of the largest Dwelling Houses I ever saw the weather has bin vary dry there has not bin any rain of any account here yet. I am well and hearty at present and hope these few lines may find you and the Babies well. You must write often we get our mail regular every day and I have not received a letter for over a week tell your Pap to be sure and write to me I should like vary mutch to receive a letter frome him. It is just (3? 8? Probably 8) months today since I left home and the time has pafsed vary quickly to me. To look back it seems but a vary short time. We don’t know hardly how the time goes we can hardly tell the day of the week sometimes. We may possibly stay here all this winter (or till the war is Settled if it is going to be this winter) the opinion of some is it will be shortly. I wish you would send me about one dollars worth of Postage stamps in the next letter you send me it is almost impossible to get them here and I am about out of them. Send me lots of stamps and I will write twice every week while we are laying in camp and when this war is closed I will come home joyfully. It may be possible I can come home this winter if we lay here (on furlow.) I shall try to if there is no sight of comeing home for good in the Spring or Summer. Yours forever D.K. Newhouse To Susan Hewhouse and babies ************************************************* Camp 4 miles frome Nashville Tenn. Nov. 29th 1862 Dear Companion I received your letter on the 26th and was glad to hear that you was in better heart than you had bin for I felt bad to thing you had got out of heart so soon. It is curious my letters don’t go through sooner than they do for I receive your letters now in about Five days after you mail them. I write 2 or 3 letters every week since we quit marching so hard. We are now laying in camp 4 miles south of Nashville we moved here yesterday. We will probably stay here several Days. I have bin all through Nashville I saw the Statehouse and Penitentiary Nashville would be a vary nice town if the streets was not so narrow. While we was in camp there I saw all of the boys in the 21st Regt. they all look hearty. They was camped right in the edge of town. Our Boys that was sick is on the mend a good many of them has the jaundice now but that don’t amount to much. Milton Ebersole is not vary well I am afraid he is going to be sick. We have All bin vacinated in our Regiment for fear we would get the Smallpox this winter. they have it some in Nashville but there is no danger of us getting it where we are anyhow I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you the same. At one time while marching through Kentucky when I had the flu I only weighed 162 pounds and now I weigh 181 without my over coat on and I am still getting fatter. I never have had better health in my life I can eat anything that is fit to eat and sometimes eat what I would not touch at home Now I want you to write often and I shal do the same when it is possible for me to do so I like to hear frome home And I know you like to hear frome me. Send Harvie’s likenefs to me if you can possibly do so. I have just bin to the other end of the regiment with some of the Boys and went in a cave. At the entrance one man could just make out to Squeeze in at a time and when we was in it looked to be about the size of a common cised setting room. We had to have a candle in there to see how things looked. We are camped in a pleasant grove where the grafs looks as green as Spring we have only had one snow this fall yet and then it fell about 4 or 5 inches deep that was the first and last I saw fall since last winter. I don’t (?) think that man was sharp for paying you ten Dollars more for Doll than he agreed to pay. he certainly cant count right. You must try and content yourself. Be light hearted and happy if you can and I can be the same No more at present But remain forever your true friend and lover Frome a friend D.K. Newhouse *************************************************** Murfresboro, Tenn., Feb. 2 1863 Mrs. D.H. Newhouse I feel it my duty to write you a few lines concerning your Husband. He nobly fell on the battlefield near this place on the 31st day of Dec. 1862. He was one of the best men in my Company. He was all ways ready and willing to do his duty when ever called upon to the last. He was well liked by all of the Company and will be long remembered by his associates. His absence from the company is very much lamented over. I have here six letters that was sent to him. I will remail them to you. My Sympathy to you for your noble and much respected Husband. May the time be when you can meet him again where parting is no more. Yours Truly Lieut. T.H. Cline *************************************************** Near Nashville Dec. 25, 1862 Dear Companion, I wish you a happy Christmas. This is from the heart of a soldier and a true love a Companion. True to you and his Country far frome home and friends in a foreign land full of enemies, a land of troubles. but notwithstanding all this there is still hope. If this is not a place of joy and mirth there is none for the circumstances in which we are placed. for we have the liveliest lot of boys this morning you ever seen. It is now Christmas and it seems but a few Days Since we left home. Time flies swiftly to the Soldier, we can hardly keep the days of the week. We have now bin out over four months and it seems but a vary short time. I hope it is the same with you but I fear it is not bin payed off yet but we maybee the first of next month it is so reported at any rate that we will be again the 15th 1863. If we are I shal send home some money for you. I have over fifty Dollars due me frome the government again that time and I shall keep but very little of it. We are now under marching orders ever since last tuesday. We packed up everything yesterday morning, tents and all, and started south with three days rations in our haversacks. the teems was ordered back to Nashville innside the entrenchments with our tents and cooking utencils on them. and when we started we expected to be gon three days on a scout to see if we could find any large body of armed rebels about here. but when we went about 2 miles we was ordered back to our old camp without the sight of a rebel and now we are laying in our camp 6 miles south of Nashville without tents and cooking utencils as usual. Some say we are going back to Nashville some of these days but I doubt it for my part. The report is that the Burnside is thrashed on the potomac and old Abes Cabinet is resigning. Bad news. if the rebels gained another victory or two. the Southern confederacy will be recognized I am afraid. but I doubt whether they will gain any more victories or not for they are run too easy by our troops. their pickets ran and left their post one day we went out scouting around and came close to their lines by them hearing one of our boys guns go of accidentally. This thing must be settled everybody say it cant last long the ways things is going on everything is in an uproar here. I did not come here to fight for negroes but I am afraid I am. Nigger is all the cry here. Some of the old regiments say they never thought of such a thing as laying down Arms before now. They say things has to change Soon they wont fight for niggers and guard rebel property too. I again wish you a happy Christmas & New years. No more at present for I have not time to write any more. Yours forever D.K. Newhouse Notes from edges of letter: I am well and hope this may find you and the babies the same. I received a letter frome Hatt. Yesterday and will answer it soon. Tell the Boys if they cant aford to send letters to me themselves I will furnish the paper or the money for them. ************************************************ Near Perry Ville, Ken., Oct. the 11th, 1862 Dear Companion We are now on the bank of a rocky river on the ground held two days ago by the rebels We Drove the rebels back for two or three days and at last after getting surrounded they made a stand and an awful battle took place I pafsed over the battleground yesterday and saw an awful sight the rebels layed vary thick there was hundreds of them killed Some tore all to pieces. Some places there was 6 or 7 in a ro just as they stood in ranks they lost a powerful lot of men. Our lofs is not vary grate we can flog them this time vary easy I think. Our regiment was in great danger they tried to Shell us with their artilery but did not hurt a man in our ranks the shels flew all over and around us we was right between our Battery and theirs in a hollow-like place I shall not try to describe the scene of the battlefield The object of this letter is merely to let you know that I am well at present and hope this may find you enjoying the same. I have not time to write now we must march right away. Yours forever D.K.Newhouse Direct your letter to the 101 Regt. OVI, in care of Capt. Noble via louisville ******************************************************* Sunny South Nov. 13th AD 1862 Near Nashville, Tennessee I occupy the present opportunity in informing you that I am well at present and hope these few poorly scribbled lines may find you enjoying the same. I received your letter dated Nov. 3rd on yesterday evening with the greatest of pleasure. You sayed you wanted to know whether I had to eat hard crackers or not. We have to eat hard crackers most of the time but I like them first rate We get the Cincinnatti crackers most all the while and they are first rate for the kind. I can Stand the eatables first rate while we have no worse fare than we have had. We have bin back about nine miles for a few days on a scouting expedition One day our Company and two others went out with 3 wagons and we fetched in flour meal honey chickens pork corn and anything that would be of any account to the Regiment . we would stop before a Rebbels house and then go in and see what we could get. if we found anything we wanted we just took it and he might look on but dassent say anything of course. You had ought to have seen us go in to the beehives best fellow gets the most every house prety near we came to had lots of bees and apples and we just took what we wanted. you had better believe we had fun alive we was out frome before sunup and stayed out till dusk in the evening. The next day we had lots of pancakes and chicken gravy you had better believe. We are pretty good cooks now. We can cook rice beans fry meat and such things as good again as we could at first. We all drink our coffee sweetened in the army where Uncle Sam finds the Sugar. I enjoy myself first rate while I am well and can receive good news frome home pretty often. but if I was sick like some of the boys is I expect I would get out of heart like some are who we left behind on our march. You sayed in your letter you would give five hundred Dollars for any person that would take my place. Of course you want me at home and I could enjoy myself at home just as good or better if anything than I did before I left if this war was only settled. but I would like to see this war closed before I come home. I came here to fight for my countrys rights. I am not Sick yet of my bargain in the least. and likewise would like to see the thing wound up so when I arrive at home I can rest at ease. I Should like to be with the Loved ones at home enjoying the wrights of a free government. not a rebel will be under arms in one year according to my opinion and then I shall come home (if not Sooner) where I can enjoy your company with the greatest of pleasure and live lovely together as we used to do. No more at present but remain yours Forever. D.K.Newhouse We are the 31st Brigade Commanded by Col. Carlin and the 9th Division Commanded by General Woodruff I guefs Jeff. C.Davis is agoing to take command of the Division in a short time I Received your Leikenefses Notes on edges of letter: Pete Crone is vary sick I sent you and Wm aletter both in one envelope a few days ago I shal write soon again Write often *************************************************************** Sunday Morning, November the 2nd, 1862 Camp on Barren River Dear Companion We are at Bolingreen Ky. we arrived here yesterday after a long march. this is a beautiful country here in places tho some places is vary rocky and hilly the wether is vary nice we have had no rain here of any account. the rodes is dusty one week ago today we was Camped on rolingfork near Lebanon and the Snow was about five inches deep it fell Saturday evening and it fell mighty fast you had better believe. We started from Louisville one month ago and have only layed in camp 6 or 7 days since. But since the battle of Chaplain Hills near Perryville we have traveled pretty slow. Some days we only travel about half the day then we stop and camp till the next morning. we have some big times you had better believe. we expect to go frome here to Nashville Tennessee and perhaps on down South for a great many miles beyond that point we can travel frome here to Nashville in about five or six days more at the rate we have bin going. I have lots i could write about and funny stories I could tell if I had time and space but I have not. I am well at present and hope these few poorly written lines may find you enjoying the Same I never enjoyed better health in my life. I would like to have a letter frome you I have not had one since the one that stated about the boys being drafted. I suppose of course that you write once or twice a week but our letters don’t come regular we have had no mail for about two weeks but we look for it every hour the cars runs up here frome Louievill so I think we will get our letters more regular. I would like awful well to hear frome you and my little pets I used to cutup with so mutch. I hope they are both well like I left them. The general opinion of our officers is that we will be home in the Spring but it is hard to tell. I expect you no more about it there at home than we do here. I wish you would tell me where to direct a letter so I could write to John and Robert. Tell Hat I often see some of the 49th Boys and they are all well. they generally encamp within 2 or 3 miles of us if not closer I saw all of them at Louisville when we was there. Tell Wm. Bryant to write me a letter I want you to write soon I have a poor chance to write to what you have No more at present but remain yours Forever D.K.Newhouse Direct your letter to Co. K 101 Reg OVI via Louisville ******************************************************