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Description
Letter written on December 2, 1864, by J. Edward James, 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Nashville, Tennessee, to his sister Lizzie James Lamberson, Galena, Illinois.
Records that at Pulaski the weather was bad with rain and snow, but they constructed a camp until ordered to leave on November 23 and marched to Columbia to head off the enemy under Hood. There was skirmishing and the enemy charged their works several times. On November 29, the army fell back across the Duck River but the fighting continued and, with the enemy cavalry crossing the river, the army retreated to Spring Hill and then to Franklin. Recounts the fight there and that the enemy charged seventeen times, but the army did not yield. Then pulled back to Nashville where he is glad to rest. While it might be seen as a retreat, he defends the generals’ decisions to stand and fight at advantageous positions, drawing the enemy in, and then moving on. He notes that the Confederate forces lost about ten thousand soldiers, killed, wounded and captured at Franklin while their losses were about eight hundred. He is confident their forces can hold Nashville since they comprise 80-90,000 men. "The day before we left Pulaski I rec'd your letter with handkerchief and Picture, all good. Many thanks Dear Lizzie and such good news too. I must say "Bully for you" if Master Edward dont make stiring and noisy times at "our house" he will not be doing as his Uncle did in his younger days. May he live to a grey old age and may his mother live to see his good works. I could not imagine why a certain young man called me Uncle Ed for a day or two previous to the arrival of your letter, but I all of a sudden "smelt amiss". Be sure and send me a "Facsimile" of mister man as soon as possible, give him a smothering kiss for me."
Identifier
sc.0069.001_004.002
Date
1864 December 2
Keywords
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondents
Recommended Citation
"1864 December 2, J. Edward James to Lizzie James Lamberson" (2023). Documents. 8.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-jamesje1/8
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