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Alfred and Addison Searles to E. G. Searles, October 13, 1861

October 13, 1861
Nicholsville, Ky
OV 21 Regt

Dear Parents and famely acquaintence.

I set down this morning to try to write a few lines to you. We are both comfortabley well.

Ad cut his hand yesterday pirty bad. I have got an awfull bad ache today. I hope that you are well. We have looked for a letar from you for the last 2 weeks, but it has not come yet. We leave here tonight or tomorrow. We do not know where we are destined for yet as a certainty, but they is one of 2 places, either Cumberland Pass between the Alegany Mts and Cumbarland Mts or to Clifton Springs in this state about 80 Miles southeast of where we now are. Major Anderson was here yesterday and look our men over. He is a fine looking man, but his health is poor. He sais he regrets that he cannot go with us, but his health will not permit. They is a good meny rigts of men in and near this place and they is 2 thousand troups on the march for this place. I cannot write but litle to you today for I must write to Mary. I hope to hear from you soon. Tell George to write to me, I cannot get the time to write, our time is all filled up so that we cannot get time to write. We have no chance to write in the evening for we have to be all shut-up and quiet at 8:00, no light nor nois after that. I will write to you as soon as we get in another place if I can. We have got some sick, but none dangerous. The most of them bring on their own sickness by imprudence.

Remember me to all with kind love to all. I remain as ever your son,
A.D. Searls.
Dirct your letars to Nicholasville, Ky - 21st Ohio Regt to the care of Capt Caton
May God bless and protect you all, adieu

October 13

Well, Father,

I will try to rite you to let you know that I am well at presant and hope that this few and poor lines will find you the same. We are in camp near Nicholasville, Ky, but how long we shall stay here I do not know. They talk of leaving tomorrow morning and if we do we shall go to Cumberlin Gap and how much farther I don't know. There is about 30,000 good men within 80 miles of here. I have not got much news to write, for Alford has riten all of the news. Well, please rite to us and let us know how you git along.

To Mr. E.G. Searls from Addison Searls

Alfred Searles to E. G. Searles, October 22, 1861

Camp Garret Davis [Olympic Springs, Kentucky]
Oct. 22, 1861

Dear Parents.

Through the merces of god I am permited to write a few hasty lines to you to let you know where we are and how we be. We are on the top of the top of the Cumberlands mountains. Got here this noon. We have been on the march since last friday morning.

Ad and I have been well till lateley. We have had the dieareah very bad so that we are both nearley sick, but of all roads that eny human being traveled over wee have passed the last of days thrugh thos montains. But we leve here tomorow morning at 5 o'clock. I expct to meet the enyma but do not know. They is no mail hear nearer than 30 miles, but our teems are a going back after provishions, so we can get a chance to send our leters back. We have a mail cariar in the regt that goes and get all the mail fur the whole thing, so that we get the whole thing. They is 3 regts of Ohio men her, the 2, the 33 and ours and several bateres and one ky regt of infantry.

This is one vast wilderness her fur the past 30 miles and how fur ahead I do not know. I hop you are all well.

Write soon. I cannot write much to you this time fur it is nearly tatou time. Now the rebels seem to fall back as fast as we advance upone them. They say this army are only armed with shot guns and revolvers and a great meny have not got them. The Cointery is all union till the last 30 miles and most of them are union or appear so.

But I must close fur this time. When I har frem you again I will write more.
My address is
Olympice Springs,
Bath Co., Ky 21 Ohio regt to care of Capt Caton.

Write soon. Our love and best wishes to all of our friends. Farewell.

When you write tell us a litle how the war is progressing. I shall write when I can get a chance to mail again. Do not morn for us fur we are only about 500 miles from you.

Adieu from you son, A.D. Searls to his parents E.G. and M. Searls

Alfred Searles to E. G. Searles, November 26, 1861

Camp near Liuisville, Ky
Nov. 26, 1861

Dear Parents and Children and Friends.

Once again I am permited to write a few lines to you to let you know that your boys are still upon the land of the living and in betar healthe than when I last wrote to you. We have both been very sick, but we are now able to help our selvs and be around again. We have had a long and heard march through the mountains, but thank God we are now out of them and I think forever.

We chased that army of rebels allmost 4 hundred miles and had 3 batels with them, gaineng the day every Pap. We have been on forced marches for weeks, a making from 15 to 30 miles in a day or day and night. An we have went 8 days on 3 days rations. Scant at that, about 6 crackers, 1 1/2 pounds of meat.

We have went 2 days and had nothing but alitle peace of fresh port that roasted on a stick over the fire with no salt. All of this has been done by us and we have traveled where the mud was shin deep all day over mountains of the worst kinds.

When we started to come back we was 450 miles from here. We marched 50 miles of it, the rest of the way we came on ther river boats. We were stowed in worse than they stow hogs in their to ship. And we were packed in that way 4 days, but we are now in camp and hope to get a litle rest. We are 4 miles out of Leieusvill. They is about 60 thousand troops encamped in sight of this place. They are intended to move towards Memphis, Tenissee. They expect to have some over 100 thousand troops to move from here. They intend to make a shure thing of it.

I expect it doutfull about our going eny further at presant, for the troops that are here have never done nothing but drill and we want rest. We have not got a man what will be fit to send out in 2 monthes. Our men are completely worn out. We have not got our pay and the 3 monthes pay is up today. Our conals say they won't move no further till they get their pay with their men. They is hard talk in camp and loud mermereng to.

But I must close for this time. It is to cold to write. My hands ar nearley stiff with cold.

With best wishis and kind love to all I remain your son,
Alfred D. Searls.

I don't know wheather Ad will write eny this time or not. I should like to know how the war was a going on in other places, but must remain ignorant as to that. I am out of money. I payed out the last dime yesterday fur a loaf of bread for my self and Ad. We have not till this week seen ris bread for 8 weeks. Thes crackers is enough to sicken a hog that would have to eat them as long as we have, but God onley knows when we shall have a change.

I do not know wheather thes letars will come through safe or not, by not being payed. My address is Camp near Lieuisvill, Ky, 21st Ohio regt to care of Capt Caton. Write soon. Give me what news you can when you write.
My respects to all. Farewell.

Addison Searles to E. G. Searles, November 26, 1861

Nov 26, 1861

Well Father,

I will try to rite a few lines to you to let you know that I am yet alive. I have bin sick and have last got up again, but I have got a bad cough yet, but it we stay here long I think that I will get well agane. I have not got much news to rite for Alford has riiten to you all of the news.

We have had some hard marches over these mountain and now I think that we will have some rest.

We have pade out the last sent of money that we had for lite bred and when we will get eny more. They told us that we would git our pay when we got in Sincinaty, but we did not stop there and when we will get it is more than I can tell.

Well, I must stop for it is time to put out the lits.

Yours with respect,
Mr. E.G. Searls from his son Addison Searls.

Alfred has given you the address

Please rite to me soon

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