"Aaron Martin to Father." (1863) Rice University:https://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/1911/92644.

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In Camp at Windsor
Dear Father,         Sept. 7th 1863,

Allow me once more to
pen you a few lines. The last time I wrote
home was from Stevenson. I have not written
since as I have had no chance to mail 
one this morning we were informed that 
mail would go out at 4 o’clock this P.M.
You ought to be here to take a view of 
the 74th every one I might say is busy writing 
letters. The last I had from home was from
Cousin Julia. I have answered it & will
mail it with this. If she has left Salem 
I wish you would forward it to Brooklyn.
I had a letter from Lambert night
before last written Aug. 17th. He wrote that
he was well, notwithstanding it was very
sickly with them & only 1/3 of his Co. fit
for duty. He was at Winnebago Agency 
guarding Stores. A week ago yesterday we
left Stevenson bright & early on our present

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march, after marching to the Tenn. River a distance
of 8 miles we camped on its bank [[ment crossed out]]
until nearly night-when we crossed the River 
on a pontoon bridge. The width of the river where
we crossed was 64 rods. While on its bank 
both officers & privates had a good swim 
in this beautiful stream. After crossing we 
marched two more miles & camped at the foot 
of Sand Mountain. Next morning being 
the last day of the month we were mustered
After mustering we resumed our line of march 
which was up the mountain. The ascent was a 
tedious one the mountain was harder to climb 
than the one we had previously crossed. Here
also we had to make mules of ourselves &
help the wagons. We were nearly half a day
gaining the lot. Tuesday the next day we 
laid still. Wednesday we commenced marching
at six & marched steady all day long 
reaching the foot of the M. an hour before 
sundown. Here we laid over a day & half
waiting for other troops to arrive. Friday 
afternoon we march to this place where

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we expect to stay a short time, for 
what reason is unknown to me. I some
think we are waiting for more troops to 
reach us. Old Rosy knows what he is 
about, at any rate I am willing to trust
him. McCooks whole corps is along & Gen.
Stanley with about 15,000 cavalry & mounted
Infantry. Where we are bound for is a 
mystery to us all, we are now on a line 
direct to Rome Ga. We are in camp in 
a valley between Sand & Lookout M.
called Wills valley. The latter mountain 
we will cross on advancing. Our Cavalry
has been to the other side, they report 
that there is some rebs waiting for us to 
cross over. They have blockaded the 
road down the Lookout M. by felling 
trees across it. They were busy felling 
them when our cavalry came upon them.
The people among the Mountains are 
most of them sound for the Union
& constitution & long to see this 
cruel war brought to a close

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One old man where we camped
the other night has three son, two
of them were conscripted into the rebel
service at the commencement of
the war, the third one was forced in at 
last but succeeded in deserting, the 
other night when our Cavalry camped 
near his fathers house, he went & enlisted 
in the 39th (Cavalry Co) Next morning as
the cavalry was going by his house, he
rode out of the ranks, (dressed up in
union clothes) & asked his father “well 
Pap do you know me” The weather 
is pretty warm. I am well, but suffering 
some from the piles. I have never had 
them before & dont care about having 
them again after I get clear of them this
time
From your Affectionate Son,
Aaron