Franklin County: Jacob Miller to George Miller, December 24,
1864
Summary:
Miller describes the ship his regiment is guarding and says he wishes he was home to hunt and
fish.
George Miller
Decem 24 the 1864
Memphis Tenn
Dear Brother
I am now on the Mississippi a short distance above the fort
guarding a boat loaded with cotton which is
under arrest we have been here on the boat about two weeks but think we
will be released in a fe days and then i think we will go on a march to
intercept
[unclear: hood] he is retreating from nashville some saying he is coming to memphis i
wish he would there was twenty five thousand calvary & infantry left here last week i
think they went toward nashville to day is a fine day but thursday [illeg.] pretty cold
this morning i seen a little ice floating down the river is raising fast lots of wood &
all kind of things floating down there is a good all of shouting going on out towards the lines but don't know what it is for
yesterday they hung a man by the name of [unclear: Mc Klaves] he
was a spy they hung him in the fort about 4 o'clock there is nothing
of any consequence going on there is an alarm gun firing now to call the militia together i
suppose we are going to have something
to do pretty soon from where i now write the guns [unclear: pound] the fort shakes me i
can hardly write they have some very large guns and when they go off it is awful i wish i was up at the [unclear: tunel] setting loops i would feel
better satisfied then at present you did not mention if you had any
loops
[page 3]
set up rail road this fall all down at kunkels & forge i always liked
it better up rail road i seen a good many rabbits and squirrels today
in market they ask 50 cts apiece for rabbits the same for squirrels deer meat 25 pr lb every thing high here apples
are 10 apiece or two
small ones for ten cts cabbage 25 pr lb it
cost me 75 per week you only get a small piece for 25 they are now
shelling the rebs across from where we are we can see them plain from here. the shells hum when
they cross but can't see them if it was night we could see them i must
now close as i must relieve the man that has been on guard we get new
recruits last
[page 4]
Tuesday they where all drafted men & substitutes they think
it rather rough but can't be helped
No more at this time but
Ever remain your true Brother
Jacob Miller
Answer this soon and a merry Christmas or a happy New year as it will be New year before you get this
