Pulaski, Tenn.

November 20th, 1864

E. Smith Woodworth & Friend

Yours to Pali reminds me that I owe you a letter—I dislike to be in debt, so will now make an attempt to pen you a few lines. We are just getting the particulars of the election, and as an old darky in Alabam said—(one day as we were passing a plantation when about five thousand were congregated along the way-side)—one of the boys asked him what he thought of the music (our cornet Band was playing)—his answer was dunno Sah, but pears like its getting mity glorious Shuah—it pears like the election, & news from Sherman, begin to make things look mity glorious for the Union cause. & as the particulars are brought out—the frauds on the part of the copperheads—their total, & everlasting defeat, it surely is encouraging to all, the most desponding, & least sanguine can now look up & take hope, I believe the end is nigh, since the 4th of last month we have marched on foot about 300 miles,--was on the cars from Dalton Ga. to down 40 miles south of Nashville from where we march to this place making a distance of 75 miles from Nashville south. Hood with his rebel fort is supposed to be on the southern shore of the Tenn. lines, about making an attempt to get into East Tenn. I hardly think he will win, for we have the army of the Cumberland and Ohio here to whip him with in case he wishes to fight or make a forward movement. we are usually well although rain and mud make up the sum of genial weather. I am longing to have this war play out that we may return home to the old social haunts in our native town. I rather fear that all the young ladies will have taken the oath of allegiance ere our time expires and we will be obliged to migrate to some other clime, but we will have all in the hands of providence. I must close as an order has just come to be ready to move immediately. Give my love to all the young people, best respects to the veterans.

Yours truly J. D. Messinger

P. S. Pali is to write you some in the same envelope. I will make up all deficiencies in this that which has been written in haste—I ask you to excuse all mistakes in writing and spelling. Ed. is all O. K.

Direct to

Nashville, Tenn.

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