Letter written by Henry Welch, corporal in the 123rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company K, from Elk River in Tennessee, on April 10, 1863, to his father, Luther Welch in North Hebron, Washington County, New York

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PAGE IMAGECamp at Elk  River (Elk River (Tennessee)) Tenn. (Tennessee) (Elk River, Tennessee)
April 10th 1863 Dear Father (Welch, Luther)

It is a pleasant
sabbath day I have just come
in from meeting and I will
now write you a short letter
we had a very good sermon
the preacher is from
Washington County (Washington County, New York) . I forget
his name he preached in
the fort. The fort is composed
of high battlements
built around, cannon
mounted upon them
with magazine in the
center. I could not help
thinking while I sat there
listening to the sermon
of the contrast between
our meeting house and

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PAGE IMAGEyour's (yours) up there in old
Hebron (Hebron, New York) . we were here
surrounded by the implements
of war, while you
were sitting up there in
that quiet old church
with old friends and neighbors
I would realy (really) like to look
in and see you all. I
can imagine just how
you look. I can almost
see some of those old worn
out men sit nodding, and
methinks I can see some of
those young fellows nodding
a little too, some that staid (stayed)
out late last night with
their --- well I will not say
who. but we will have no
more of this. I will say that
I am as well as ever
and getting along finely
the boys are all well.

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PAGE IMAGEI sent an express
box to you yesterday
with three overcoats in
it also a dress coat. the dress
coat is mine and the over
coat that has a peice (piece) of
paper pinned on the
collar is also mine. the
other two are for
Mr. Durham (Durham (Mr.)) from
Richard (Richard) and a tentmate
of his please send them to
him tell him that
Rich (Richard) is well. you will
find the box at Granville (Granville, New York)
if it comes through. we
thought we could not
carry our coats this
summer if we marched
they were so heavy. I
presume you will think
so too. I will enclose the
receipt in this letter

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PAGE IMAGE our corps is consolidated
with the eleventh corps (11th Corps)
we do not like the plan
much. everything is quiet
in front. there is now
no rumors of our moving
I can think of no more
to write so I will close
my love to all write
soon.

yours truly Henry (Welch, Henry)