Savannah, Mar 14th, 1862After a long time I grasp my pen to write to you my dear family. We was aboard the Steamer Memphis 8 or nine days. We was in dirt, lice shit, grease and hard crackers, but strange to say our mess is still clear of lice. I changed clothes this morning just in the dirty ones I took off at Ft. Donelson. They looked clean by the ones I took off. Our brigade is all the troops that got off the boats at this place. The rest are still on the boats. I think there is over eighty boats here, all loaded with troops except about two. There is a long force of Secesh above here twenty or thirty miles, and it is generally believed we will have a big fight up there. It is no use telling what I think about it for you know as much as I do, but I think we will meet some of Buell's forces between having the fight. I do not think our Reg. will be put in the fight. We muster about 90 men in our Reg. for duty. Two Capts and four Lieutenants. Our Reg may stay here, but I do not think it will, but I do think we will be stationed some place shortly, and whenever it is, I want you and Zetty (leave Oscar), Kate, Rebecca and father, Lee and James to come and see me. Yes, some of you must come, and whoever does must bring Zetty. I do not think of going home till the war is over, in fact, furloughs have played out. If any of you do try to come, do not try to get a pass. Get on a boat and come, hide in a state, hundreds come to Ft. Donelson. This County is largely Secesh, no
©2006 C.S. Parkinson
