Frankliny Tenn
March the 10 1863
Dear Father , I now Set
my Self down to answer
your letter Dated the 19
of last month I was
glad to hear from you
but I am sorry to hear
that there is so many
Sick back there I am not
verry well I have the
Diorea verry bad. father I
have bad news to tell you
the 85 has been in a fight
and they all taken Prisoner
except Company D they
was left back to guard a
Brige the 85 foght like
men they made a Charge
on the Batttery and they
would have taken it but
as it hapen there was
a Regiment or two behind
a Stone wall fence they
was laying hid redy for
them as soon as we made
a Charge on the Battery they
raised up and a way
the Bullets whistle you
better think our men had
to retreate back. there was
so many of the Rebels
they overpowered us. they
surroned them but they
did not Capure the train
but the Brigade was all
taken all the Colonals was
taken there was only one hun
dred kill and three hundred
wouned out of our Brigade
So reported. but it is repor
ted we kill twice as many
of the Rebels but if we had
Reinforcements there wouldant
been nun of this. it is done
under Generl Gilbert Colo. Cobein
Sent back three times for
Reinforcements there was
Some negroes told him
there was good many Rebel
and he Sent them to him
but Generl Gilbert told him
to go a head call him a
Coward Such like. Colo. Cobein
he Studed for Some time
before he went a head he
told them what would be
the Consequnse Colo Cobein
he was acting brigadier Generl
if he had his way he would
had Reinforcements but he
was under orders to do what
he was Commanded to do
Generl Gilbert is now
under rest. we have now
got Reinforcements
and they are persuing
after the enemy. is Said
to be a bout thirty
thousand Rebels a gainst
one Brigade. father you
said Something a bout
Sending my boots I dont
need them now I have
drawed a pair of Shoes
keep them we may be sent
back to Indinnoppoly
we may either be Sent
back or kept as guards
well I must Close my
Letter for it is a bout
the Bottom of the page
So no more at presant
Wm. J. Andrews