1862 February 21 Camp Union

Dear Father & Mother

It is now quite late
in the evening & as I have
thought to write to you during
the day & have neglected it
I will not postpone it further.
I have now been in camp nearly
two weeks & during this time
we have not had much to
do as a Band. have only had
two Parades. We however practice
considerable but not so much
as if we were all together.
There are only eleven of us
now.

We received thenews of the
Glorious Victory in Tenn. a
few days since & also news
of the taking of Savannah Ga.
You should have seen the

[page 2]excitement it produced.
Nearly all the officers from
the Col. down went on a big
Drunk & many of the privates
were in the same condition
and I am sorry to say that some
of the band were not clear of
the charge.

We heard today that Gen. Price
with his whole staff were
taken prisoners.

I indeed all these reports be true
it will certainly be a terrible
stroke to the Rebels.

For some days past we have
had orders to be ready to
march on short notice. this
it seems is a general order
to all the troops in the field.
from this I am inclined to
think that something is
about to be done.
I hope so, at least hope we

[page 3]
may be ordered forward.
May be allowed to aid
in giving the finishing
blow to this accursed rebellion.

A few days since a party of
Rebel soldiers prisoners were
started from this place to
Columbus. they were indeed
hard looking cases ragged,
dirty & grossly ignorant.
just the men to be led about
and controlled by the will
of a superior mind.

My health is at present
very good but I have
found it rather difficult
to come down to the rough
camp fare we are obliged
to submit to.

I have thought several
times of writing to Aunt
Cook but I hardly know
what to say to her. What

[page 4]
do you think I had best
say to her. I would like
if you would write to me
immediately & tell me
and you might send
me her letter that we rec'd
when I was at home. I have
forgotten what she said.
The boys all thought
that the apple butter I
brought with me was the
best they ever ate.
I almost wish now that
I had brought some butter
with me.

Campbell had a small sack of
provisions with him but with
his usual carelessness lost
it on the way. I suppose Tom
has made his appearance ere
this. How does he do?

Write soon,
Yours truly, J.D. Templeton

The Regiment's colonel was future U.S. president Rutherford B. Hayes

MSS 10317