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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., October 16th/63

My Dear Wife

Yours of the 9th & 10th inst. reached me this morning.¹ The past two days have been almost insupportable. The last letter was recd. on Monday, dated the 8th, & this is Friday with no intelligence.² I could not imagine what had happened. I tried to keep myself busily employed all day yesterday, but failed to keep my mind from reaching out into the future. I feared that the care and anxiety attending Frankie’s illness had brought disease upon you, & the improbability of my getting leave of Absence seemed unendurable. I feel better satisfied now, however, & earnestly hope and pray that Frankie’s health may continue to improve and yours be preserved. God is still good and merciful to us. Let us praise him.

I wrote to Sarah Williams & Maggie [Utley] last night — but fear my tone was not very cheerful. I requested Sister Maggie to send me the package in my drawer & told her where to find the key. I will notify you when it is received.

How are you off for money? Did Remick send you any more?

I am happy to hear that Father’s health is better & hope it will continue to improve.

It has been raining almost incessantly for several days past. I fear it will prove disastrous to our Army, as the roads are becoming impassible, and the Army is solely dependent upon wagon trains for Supplies.³

I have no news from Bro. Johnie since the last I sent you. My health continues to be good for which I have great reason to be thankful. Lt. Smith heard from his wife this morning. She has been very poorly again but is slowly recovering. The health of the Regiment is good. Lt. McKnight & his wife have returned [from Livingston County]. He was home on a leave of Absence from the Hospital for 20 days, & she went with him. His health is much improved, but he is still feeble.

I will send you a copy of the [Pontiac] Sentinel. Do you still receive it, or has father [Murphy] ordered it stopped?

The news from the elections in Ohio & Pennsylvania are favorable, but not so large as we hoped. Valandigham will be defeated by a large majority, & I hope Woodward also. How does Father [Culver] feel about affairs now?

Are all our friends strong in the faith? We must have more troops. What will Pennslyvania do?

I hope Frankie’s health has so far improved that you will get rest. You will please accept my warmest thanks for writing so punctually every day. May God bless & keep you both. Write to me as often as you can. Give my love to all the family. Kiss Frankie for me.

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

P.S. I expect to leave on train guard for Stevenson this afternoon & shall not probably hear from you for a few days.

1. Mary Culver’s letters of October 9 and 10 are missing from the Culver Collection. [↩]
2. Mary Culver’s letter of October 8 is missing from the Culver Collection. [↩]
3. Confederate horse-soldiers led by Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler had forded the Tennessee on October 1 and, advancing up Sequatchie Valley, had captured and destroyed over 300 wagons. To add to the Federals’ difficulties, torrential rains turned the 60-mile road from Bridgeport to Chattanooga by which the Army of the Cumberland was supplied into a ribbon of mud. Rations ran short. There was grave danger that Bragg’s army would starve the Federals out of Chattanooga before relieving columns under Generals Hooker and Sherman could swing into action. Cist, Army of the Cumberland, p. 231. [↩]