Camp Vandorn Knox County Tennessee
April 19th 1862
Dear wife I take the present opertunity of writing to
inform you that I am well all but a small tuch of the diare but
not bad and hope that this will reach you safe and find you all
well William is well also I can inform you that I got your letter
of the 13th a few minets a go I had just finisht writing you a bucket
for not writing for I had wrote eleven letters since I come in camps
one to Brother Jack and ten to White and had not got but one from
you and a peace of one from mother and mary ann and I had got tired
of writing with out geting no letters but as you have wrote I will
write a gain and not send it you wrote that you wanted me to come
home before I started from the Big Shanty but I have left there
and is one hundred and seventy five miles from there or more We
left there on the 17th at half past two oclock and got here on the
18th at twelve oclock Which made 22 hours on the way this is the
prettyest country that I ever saw the country is covered in cedars
from one foot through down and the fields covered with the beartifulls
meadows of clover and the best wheat that I ever saw at this time
a year wher the Rail road croses the Tennessee River it is between
a quarter of a mile and a half wide we had a pleasent ride if you
call siting on a rough plank a day and
(pg 2) night any thing for I was plase at the door of
the box to keep all in on the way cant say how long we will stay
here but I think not long for ther is fighting going on in the southern
confedracy and some not far off yesterday I suppose from wat I here
it was in eight mile of this place I have had good health all the
time since I have bin in camps but some of the rest is down with
the measels and mumps ther is thirteen we left at marietta in the
hospital and some four more taken the measels and mumps since we
come here E. C. Ledford N. Slaton J. T. Carter with the measls James
Mullennix with the mumps but none bad off Ledford has the measls
out good on him all the sargents is sick and first corprel so I
have to attend to Ordaly place and ther is but one more corprel
well and he is complaining some and if times don't change I will
have my hands full I see no chance to come home shortly but I want
to see you all badly you write that all is well and mother writes
that Elick and the baby is sick I want you to write every week for
you have no excuse for I know that you have paper and envelops and
I sent you stamps by J. C. Bell I made a mistake in the amount that
I owd Comer and Meaders it 1.70 cts each that I want you to pay
and write back a bout it as I have to send it if you dont pay it
Recieve my warmest hart L. F. Crumley
Crumley family papers transcribed and contributed by
Christine Crumley Brown