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Andrew F. Davis papers, January-October 1863
01_1863-09-03-Page 01
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Camp on the Mountain Six Miles from Chattanooga Tenn. Sept. 3 1863 Mrs.Sarah Davis Dear wife. It has been a long time since I wrote you a letter and I will try to make up for lost time tonight and fill this sheet if I am able, to keep my light from going out, as I have only a Shelter tent to write under and the wind is quite high. I believe that the last letter I wrote you was on the 12 of Aug, with the exception of the pencil note which I sent you some 6 or 7 days since. And I will now try and give you some of the reasons why I have not written oftener, Well to commence, on the 16 of Aug. we struck tents and took up our line of march for Chattanooga and two miles march brought us to the foot of the mountain which to take the meanderings of the road we had to climb two miles to reach the top. The men marched to the top and stacked their arms and then went back to help the teams up, We put two horses or mules to each wagon and then all the men that could get ahold of it and in that we got the teams up at 3 oclock in the moring. the 17th we marched 8 miles to Tracy a small Coal mine town on the top of the mountain. On the 18 we marched 15 miles and crossed a mountain on the top of a mountain. On the 19" we marched 13 miles which brought us to the foot of the mountain and in the Sunatchee Valley, All the way from Tracy I do not think we passed more than 6 or 8 houses, The whole country is very sandy and poor but covered with a heavy growth of timber mostly oak. The Sunatchee Valley is very rich and productive and about 2 miles wide where we crossed it. And when we arrived on the brow of the mountain and saw the beautiful scenery and rich valley beneath us Shouts of joy Spontaneously burst from the men. Up to this time our Brigade had been alone but that night (the 19) the rest of Our Division come up with us. So far our boys carried their knapsacks but on the morning of the 20" Our Brigade was ordered to leave all baggage except Gum Blankets and 3 days rations in haversacks, And at 8 Oclock we started forward again and 5 miles brought us to where we again had to climb the mountain which is much higher and more Steep than the one near Tracy. Sixteen miles march brought us to where we now are. and it being dark we lay down witout looking around us but when moring come the grandest scene it has ever been my lot to witness lay before us. We ware situated immediately on the brow of the mountain which is 900 feet high 300 of which is a perpendicular cliff. By going to the edge of the cliff the whole country lays as a map before you. The first or foreground is a valley some 5 miles in width interspersed with roads and farms. Then comes the Tennessee River winding like a huge snake before us with the village of Chattanooga barely visable as it nestles among the trees on the bank of the river betwen Six and Seven miles
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Camp on the Mountain Six Miles from Chattanooga Tenn. Sept. 3 1863 Mrs.Sarah Davis Dear wife. It has been a long time since I wrote you a letter and I will try to make up for lost time tonight and fill this sheet if I am able, to keep my light from going out, as I have only a Shelter tent to write under and the wind is quite high. I believe that the last letter I wrote you was on the 12 of Aug, with the exception of the pencil note which I sent you some 6 or 7 days since. And I will now try and give you some of the reasons why I have not written oftener, Well to commence, on the 16 of Aug. we struck tents and took up our line of march for Chattanooga and two miles march brought us to the foot of the mountain which to take the meanderings of the road we had to climb two miles to reach the top. The men marched to the top and stacked their arms and then went back to help the teams up, We put two horses or mules to each wagon and then all the men that could get ahold of it and in that we got the teams up at 3 oclock in the moring. the 17th we marched 8 miles to Tracy a small Coal mine town on the top of the mountain. On the 18 we marched 15 miles and crossed a mountain on the top of a mountain. On the 19" we marched 13 miles which brought us to the foot of the mountain and in the Sunatchee Valley, All the way from Tracy I do not think we passed more than 6 or 8 houses, The whole country is very sandy and poor but covered with a heavy growth of timber mostly oak. The Sunatchee Valley is very rich and productive and about 2 miles wide where we crossed it. And when we arrived on the brow of the mountain and saw the beautiful scenery and rich valley beneath us Shouts of joy Spontaneously burst from the men. Up to this time our Brigade had been alone but that night (the 19) the rest of Our Division come up with us. So far our boys carried their knapsacks but on the morning of the 20" Our Brigade was ordered to leave all baggage except Gum Blankets and 3 days rations in haversacks, And at 8 Oclock we started forward again and 5 miles brought us to where we again had to climb the mountain which is much higher and more Steep than the one near Tracy. Sixteen miles march brought us to where we now are. and it being dark we lay down witout looking around us but when moring come the grandest scene it has ever been my lot to witness lay before us. We ware situated immediately on the brow of the mountain which is 900 feet high 300 of which is a perpendicular cliff. By going to the edge of the cliff the whole country lays as a map before you. The first or foreground is a valley some 5 miles in width interspersed with roads and farms. Then comes the Tennessee River winding like a huge snake before us with the village of Chattanooga barely visable as it nestles among the trees on the bank of the river betwen Six and Seven miles
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