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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Octr. 2nd 1863

My Dear Wife

I wrote a note hastily to-day & intended to enclose Bro. Johnie’s letter, but the drum beat for drill, &, in my haste, I neglected to put it in. Please find it enclosed herein.

I wrote a short note to Mother [Murphy] to-day, informing her that he [Brother Johnny] was well, thinking that she would feel uneasy.

I shall look anxiously for a letter from you every day until Frankie gets better. You cannot imagine [how glad] I was this morning to receive your second letter dated but one day after your other informing me of his illness.¹ I know you are taxed heavily, but if you can only write a line to tell me how he is. I hope to be able to get this into to-night’s mail; I am not sure of success but will try. I must therefore be brief.

Troops are still passing through here in large numbers.² I saw Maj. Genrl. Hooker to-day. He is on his way to the front to take some command.³ It is reported Burnside’s, but we hope that is not true.⁴

We are all enjoying good health. It has rained quite hard for two days. It is quite cool at present. I will write to Bro. Johnie to-night. He requested me to send him some of your letters which I will do. They will give him pleasure.

In my distribution of photographs, I did not have enough & could not send Mother one. I will get more as soon as I am able. I sent one to Maggie [Utley] which I had long ago promised. Enclosed find Capt. Reed’s which he gave me this evening on promise that I would return the compliment. [Lt.] Smith claimed one for his wife which I promised, & Capt. Hoskins one in return for his. I sent one to Sarah Williams, & Christ Yetter took one, & another disappeared.

The Boys are all in good Spirits. Alf [Huetson] is singing the songs you sent, & waiting for this letter to go to the office with it. He wants to get the Ledger. You never mentioned the receipt of the “Nashville Union” I sent you. Did you receive it? We have no late news; everything from the front is contraband. Our Landlady had an opportunity to let the room I engaged to-day, & I told her to let it go.⁵ There are others to be had in the vicinity. When Frankie gets well, & you determine the time you will come I will make arrangements.

Give my love to all the family & Remember me to all our friends. Mrs. Smith is still quite poorly but talks of returning soon. If she gets able to travel, she will surely come. Kiss Frankie for me. May God grant him speedy health. I shall not forget to pray for you both. I have written in haste. Good night.

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

1. Mary Culver’s letter of September 25 is missing from the Culver Collection. [↩]
2. The last of the trains with General Howard’s XI Corps infantry having passed through Nashville on the 30th, those with foot-soldiers of Maj. Gen. Henry C. Slocum’s XII Corps were now traveling through the city. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXX, pt. IV, p. 49. [↩]
3. Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker commanded the two corps from the Army of the Potomac en route to help drive the Confederates from the approaches to Chattanooga. Hooker left Nashville late on the 2d, and reached Stevenson early next morning. Ibid. [↩]
4. There was no truth to the rumor that General Hooker was to replace General Burnside as commander of the Department of the Ohio. Burnside was at Knoxville with most of his field army. [↩]
5. In anticipation of an early visit by his wife and son, J.F.C. had engaged a room for them near the camp of the 129th Illinois. [↩]