September 21 1862 Knoxville TN.
Letter mostly refers to his health which was "well as common". States that 2 men died from poisoning (assume it was food poisoning). States that they haven't caught up with their regiment yet. Didn't know how they would be there but heard they were going to Kentucky. States he is homesick for his wife & children.
October 8, 1862 Clinton TN.
Says they were leaving for KY. tomorrow. Hopes he will have a good time while there. Complained about all the Tories around them & said it was dangerous to move about. Said that the Tories killed 2 of their men. Stated that they had captured 3 of the Tories & most likely will hang them. Said that some of soldiers would stay behind & look for more Tories in the mountains. Said that they had not heard anything from the rest of of the 33RD regiment that was in Ky. Stated that they were in Buckner's 2nd battalion. Told his wife that he hoped that the Yankees never got to her home as they would steal everything. (Strange that they were refered to as Tories).
November 15, 1862 Franklin County TN.
Mostly family chit chat but does tell her to tell neighbor that if he wants, he can use their new land for planting & can have 1st year crops.
January 25 1863 Tullahoma TN.
Says they were getting enough to eat. Says that smallpox was raging through camp. Says he is trying to earn money to send home for he feared he might be killed. Said he would send home a song ballad that he got on the battlefield from a Yankee. (I assume this was just after the the battle of Murfreesboro TN.). Said he had made a ring from a cow's foot. Complains again about being homesick. Said he had lost weight since the battle.
December 17 1863 Tunnel Hill GA.
(This most likely is after the battle of Ring gold Gap GA). Complained of rain & cold & very little to eat with a little beef & bread once a day. Wants wife to send him a box of white peas & butter. (I find it puzzling that he requests butter although I guess during the winter it could be sent without melting). Still mentions being homesick.
December 24 1863 GA.
Says he is selling his tobacco so he could send the money to her. Very melancholy about family.
May 22 1864 near Hightower River
(This is most likely after battle of Resaca GA.) Tells wife that he thinks they are losing the war. Tells wife that if the Yankees did come to their place, to treat them well & to tell them she is a Whig.
July 17 1864 Line of Battle Atlanta GA.
Told her that they were waiting for the Yankees to cross the river & said they would give them a fight. Said he was afraid they would be driven back again as the Yankees had so many men.
Stated it was beautiful sunny Sunday morning but could hear the fighting all around.
August 8 1864 near Atlanta
Letter written by a friend telling her that her husband was no more. Said he was killed July 21 (4 days after his last letter to her) & was buried as best they could afford. He told her what a fine man her husband was. Said he was present when the death occurred & he only lived a few moments.
Again, I am sorry I can't copy the letters verbatim but since they are not my property & she was kind enough to send them to me because of my interest in the 33rd, this will have to suffice.
I gathered from the letters this was just a common man who dearly loved his family & just wanted to be at home but felt an obligation to his calling. Like so many before & after him.