Letter written by Henry Welch, corporal in the 123rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company K, to his father from Bridgeport, Alabama, November 14, 1863

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PAGE IMAGEBridgeport  Alabama (Bridgeport, Alabama)
Nov. 14th 1863 Dear Father (Welch, Luther)

Once more I
take my pen to write a few
words to you to let you know
that I am still in good
health. I received a letter
from John (John) a few day's ago
I have not answered yet.
Col: McDougal (McDougal (Colonel)) come back
to the regiment yesterday
none of us were at all glad
to see him we were in hopes
that he had left us for
good, Well Father (Welch, Luther) we are
hearing first rate new from
the Potomac army (Army of the Potomac) for a
few days now we think
that Meade (Meade, George Gordon (General)) is doing the fair

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PAGE IMAGE thing out there. thing's
are quiet about here. Gen:
Sherman (Sherman, William T. (General)) is moveing (moving) his
command toward lookout
mountain. Longstreet (Longstreet, James (General)) is
on a part of the mountain
with quite a large force
although he does not command
the river at any point.
there is only two roads that
leads off the mountain
where the reps are Hooker (Hooker, Joseph (General))
occupies one of these road's
and Sherman (Sherman, William T. (General)) is marching
toward the other. eight heavy
seige (siege) guns were put on
the steamboat yesterday
when these guns get there
and when Sherman (Sherman, William T. (General)) takes
possession of that other
road then you will hear
of a battle Longstreet (Longstreet, James (General))

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PAGE IMAGE will either have to fight
or surender (surrender) or else starve
deserter's say that come in
that they deal out ration's
of corn on the mountain
on (one) ear being a ration for a
day. I asked a rebel deserter
the other day what made
so many of their men
desert? he said we know
that our cause is hopeless
and our families are
starving to death we do not
wand (want) to make this war
last any longer and cause
our familie's and ourselve's
to suffer any more. shuch (such)
is the way they all talk.
Father (Welch, Luther) I think the coming
winter will see the southern
army dstroyed (destroyed), what starvation
don't do I am confident the

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PAGE IMAGE the union army will
I think myself that this
rebelion (rebellion) has about played
out. and what is left will
I am in hope's play out soon.
Father (Welch, Luther) tell John (John) to send
me a sheet of sandpaper
he can send it in a
news paper. tell Philo (Philo) that
the boy's are all well and
that Dowd (Dowd) is at the time
I am writeing (writing) out with his
gun hunting please

write soon from
your Son Henry Welch (Welch, Henry)

my love to all.
Henry (Welch, Henry)