Chattanooga Tenn

Feb 14th 1864

Friend William

I received your kind letter dated Feb. 4th and was glad to hear from home again. Our Battalion came into camp last evening a little before sundown. We have been out on the Chicamauga battle cence last Monday week. We have been burying dead. We buried about eight hundred as near as I can find out. We encamped about three miles beyond our pickets. We was not disturbed any by the rebs. We did not see any rebs only some that came into our line. I think some twenty or twenty-five came in while we were out there. There was one time we thought we would be attacked. While we were out one half of the men went out at a time, the others staid in to wach the camp and the day we were alarmed I was out and the word came for us to come in quick that our camp was attacked and we started for camp and I thought the next thing I would see would be the rebs. When we cot in, nearly all the men were out ready for an attack but it all turned out to be false.

The alarm was caused some three or four rebel cavalry firing on one of our cavalry that was riding around and our pickets heard the firing and gave the alarm. So we have not had a fight yet.

But it was a wonder to me that we was not for we was not more than ten or twelve miles fro a rebel camp. Enough to have taken us had they tried it. But lucky for them and for us to, they did not come. So we have got back to Chattanooga again and found our camp all right.

It is raining to day. It is the first rain we have had to amount to much cence I have been here.

I have had excellent health cence I enlisted wich is best of all.

Deserters are coming in very fast. One of the boys that staid in camp told me that three hundred came in day before yesterday.

I think if they come in that way long, it won't be long before the southern Confedacy will play out. Some think that the war will be over before long, others think that it will be a long time. For my part I dont know, consequently I dont say, but I hope it wont be long.

I suppose the 41st is at home enjoying themselves the first best at least they ought to and I hope they will.

You write that George has got home and he is buried. Well I am sorry. George was as good a young man as I ever met with. He always seemed like a brother to me instead of a stranger and I feel that I am bereft of a friend. While you are bereft of a bro. and you all have my sympathies. I feel that although George was called away in the prime of his life, he has gone to a better land, a land where there will be no more wars or rumors of war. I am very much obliged to you for your kind offer saying you would write to me. I hope you will do so for is a great consolation to me to get letters from my old friends.

I have heard that my brother Boyd had enlisted but I dont know where he is and I cant write to him until I know where to write. I wish you would let me know if you know so that I can write to him. I suppose he will write as soon as he gets settled and may be you can let me know sooner.

I cant get postage stamps here without some trouble so I wish you would send me some and I will send you the money and be oblige to you. Besides I wish you would send me the Sandusky Regester. I dont care if you only send it once a month, it will be a great accomadation to me and I will do as much for you when I have the chance.

Any how I will do what I promised to do for you if you will let me if it done come of before I get home. I suppose you know what that is. You know what you told me going to [unreadable].

My sheet is nearly full I will have to close. Give my love to all the folks and to them good Union girls. I dont see many here and what I do see chew tobuckoo a rite smart. I reckon no more this time but remain your true friend and brother in Christ. Write soon.

A. Clendening