This Civil War letter written by Union soldier William H. Gripman to his friends describes the conditions in Chattanooga, where his regiment was stationed in 1865. The letter is dated March 1, 1865. He describes how bad the officers are and how they got rid of an officer that hung one of the boys up by his thumbs. Gripman writes that he is ready to say goodbye to Uncle Sam. He also writes that he has picked up the bad habits of smoking and stealing, which he claims he will quit once discharged. Gripman wants his mother to know that he is living well with the best of quarters, good beds, two blankets each, and a good bed sack.