DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Andrew F. Davis papers, 1862

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05_1862-12-09-Page 01

I have not saw Eli Osborn for some time.  Dont Know why he never comes round. 
Camp Near Nashville Tenn Dec. 9" 62 
Mrs. Sarah Davis 
My dear Wife 
As I now Set in my tent writing the booming of cannon is wafted to me from our advance lines only a few miles (5 or 6) from here.  It has been reported all this forenoon that the enemy are advanceing in force towards us with the avowed purpose of attacting and for the last half hour the artillery fireing has been quite Steady which goes to confirm the report and I will not be at all surprised if we are called into line before I finish this..  Report says that 20,000 are advanceing before our Critendens Corps. which is the left wing of the army here and if that proves true no doubt but what a large force is also advanceing on other points of our line and if such is the case a heavy and bloody battle will be fought here before you receive this 
It has been Known for Some days past that they ware in considerable force between here and Murfreesborough We have had a fight with them evry day for over a week when we went after forage and the obstanacy with which they contested our forces when geathering forage was conclusive evidence that they ware in considerable force not far off 
This advance of theirs today maybe only a feint to draw our Attention while they make a dash on Some other less well Supported point.  Our commanders Say that if they do not attact us today that Our (Woods) division will make a reconnoisance in force tomorrow and try and see how they are situated and See if they are as Strong as their maneuvers would indicate 
As I before Stated if they attact us here it will be a bloody affair for they would never undertake to take a place as well fortified and as numerously defended without a vast Army at

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I have not saw Eli Osborn for some time. Dont Know why he never comes round. Camp Near Nashville Tenn Dec. 9" 62 Mrs. Sarah Davis My dear Wife As I now Set in my tent writing the booming of cannon is wafted to me from our advance lines only a few miles (5 or 6) from here. It has been reported all this forenoon that the enemy are advanceing in force towards us with the avowed purpose of attacting and for the last half hour the artillery fireing has been quite Steady which goes to confirm the report and I will not be at all surprised if we are called into line before I finish this.. Report says that 20,000 are advanceing before our Critendens Corps. which is the left wing of the army here and if that proves true no doubt but what a large force is also advanceing on other points of our line and if such is the case a heavy and bloody battle will be fought here before you receive this It has been Known for Some days past that they ware in considerable force between here and Murfreesborough We have had a fight with them evry day for over a week when we went after forage and the obstanacy with which they contested our forces when geathering forage was conclusive evidence that they ware in considerable force not far off This advance of theirs today maybe only a feint to draw our Attention while they make a dash on Some other less well Supported point. Our commanders Say that if they do not attact us today that Our (Woods) division will make a reconnoisance in force tomorrow and try and see how they are situated and See if they are as Strong as their maneuvers would indicate As I before Stated if they attact us here it will be a bloody affair for they would never undertake to take a place as well fortified and as numerously defended without a vast Army at