Camp Near Rutledge Tennessee   Oct 26th 1862

Dear Companion

I take the present opportunity of writing to inform you that I am in Common Health at this time Hopen these Lines will Reach you safe and find you all well. Yours of the 29th Sept has come safe to hand I met it at the Cumberland Gap on my way back from Kentuckey You must excuse me for not writing no oftener then I have for we have Been on a march for the Last 35 days we Left the Cumberland Gap on the 20th of Sept and got back to this camp last night and has not had more then five days rest in the 35 Days and we are all wore out as anything and I have had the Diareah all the march and the piles ever since we started Back until yesterday they quit hirting me and I am on the mend So I think that I will get over my trip shortly F M Crumly is at Been Station or there is where he went when we started to the Gap I have got but two letters from you since Elbert came back and it has been something over five weeks since I wrote before we went to Kentuckey we have seen hard times since we started to Kentucky and all most starved for water on the march and got Bread once a Day and sometimes none (turn over)

(pg 2) the first frost that I saw was the 20 of this month and it comemanced snowing last night and has continued ever since the snow is about 3 inches deep at this time and all the trees green It looks like snowing in the summer   Monday Evening 27th   the snow this morning was 6 inches Deep but has cleard off and is melting fast we was orderd to march this morning but was orderd Back to our old camp but will start a gain in the morning to chatanooga I Expect from what I hear but don’t know for sertin wher we will go but I will write a gain as soon as I get where I go and I want you to write as often as you can and let me hear how you all come on you wrote to me that Brother Alexander D. Crumly wanted you to moove to his house and I want you to write to me whither you are willing to moove there or not as Emily has wrote to Marion that you or her one has to Leave there for you have said more a Bout her then she can write and that you clame one third of the corn and that is no more then the contrack I was to have one third of the corn and she says you clame half of the fodder there was nothing said about the fodder So if I was you I would take one third and say no more bout it and have no fuss if you can get a long with out it for pease is the best policy

(pg 3) and if you ant willing to moove there write to me as soon as you get this and let me know and if you ant willing to moove there you must get a place for your self as I cant get the chance to come home to attend to the business my self  But I will come home as soon as I can get the chance for I want to see you all Bad as any Body can want to see any Body I cant write all a bout my trip at this time some of the Boys has not got to camps yet T L Ledford is sick and W P Franklin is both sick and has not got up with the Regment yet and E. C. Ledford is back with them they are on theis side of the gap and Simps Jackson is in Kentuckey Down with the fever He is bad off and as when we come back by wher he was left at the Capt Stopt and saw him William is with us and well Dan Jackson come up this morning with his toes out so you can guess how his feet felt in the snow Ance Boggs starts home in the morning and I will send this by him tell A H Ledford that I hant herd from Curtis since I left the gap if you get a place there to live at write to me where it is and all the news there and I want you to Keep all the truck you make and sell none for it is a going to be hard times and note much prospect of better times and I want you to do the best you can for there is no Chance at this time for me to come home but one of the company will go home

(pg 4 ) in a few days But I see no chance for me to get to come yet the one that comes will be Detailed to go to bring Clothing but I shall send for non unless I could draw some money for we have not Drawed any yet But I understand that we will Draw as soon as we get to Knoxville and I will send you some as soon as I draw it I cant get to come and Bring it But I hope that I will get to come my self I want you to write all you know a Bout AT & NW Jackson as I have not herd from Either of them since N W Jackson started to Virginia and I am ancious hear from them I am sorrow to hear that William L. Sumter was killed in the Maryland Battle I want to be at home making shoes for you and the children and a good pare for my self for my toes is out but the snow is most all gone so I think I will Do well yet I have wrote this letter on paper that was give to me by the Ladies of Danville Kentuckey and I shall put it in an envelop of some sort so I will come to a close for the present Direct to Knoxville and I will write again as soon as I get stationed So no more but remains you Husband untill Death

                                                                                                            L. F. Crumly
To Nancy E. Crumly