Moscow, Tenn, Jan 4, 1863Sarah,
This is Sunday night, so I just found out at supper. I have not written any for several days because there is no chance of sending letters or getting any. We left Holly Springs the 29th and got here the next morning, 25 miles. It has been raining for a day or two, but today is clear and warm. We have neither had letters or papers since Van Dorn was in Holly Springs and we are just that much behind in news. We hear all kind of stories. Burnside driven across the river at [undecipherable], loss 13,000. Banks in N.C. then at New Orleans, Vicksburg taken and then we hear it is all a lie, and the Rebels have Memphis, Columbus, Donelson, and Henry, but we believe nothing and we know nothing. Our brigade is here, the rest of our division is between here and Memphis guarding the R.R. Tell Father I saw a prisoner at Holly Springs that lives within a mile of Tom Moon's, knows him well. His wife is dead. Silas was forced into Faulkner's car, our Cav took him prisoner, but paroled him because he had fell off his horse and fractured his shoulder. [undecipherable] is married, got two darkeys, [undecipherable] had two [negroes], but both left since the war, and old Tom has lost all but two or three. The prisoner says old Tom is strong Secesh, but he thinks Sile and [undecipherable] are rather weak in the cause. The prisoner said our Cav was at old Tom's twice and he thought they stripped him clean, but he did not know for certain.
©2006 C.S. Parkinson