Camp near Mossy Creek Tenn Mar 9th [1864]
Dear Mother
I suppose that before this letter reaches you, you will begin to wonder why I do not write. But I will explain it to you. My last letter was written when we were at Knoxville on the 23d of Febuary. On the 24th we received orders to take four days rations and be ready to march in light marching order. So we left our knapsacks behind and I left all my writing materials in mine but last night Nohum Farmer had a bunch of envelopes sent to him and he lent me one so with the paper you sent I can now write. We expect our knapsacks will come up to us in a few days. Well at eight o clock on the morning of the 24th we left our camp near Knoxville and marched that day to Strawberry Plains 16 miles. The rebels left the day before so we had no trouble with them. We remained at the Plains during the next day waiting for pontoons and rations to come up. On the 26th the boats having come up we crossed the river and went into camp. Our regiment was on picket that day and over 20 deserters from Longstreets army come in and gave themselves up. On the 27th we marched to Mossy Creek 14 miles. On the 28th We marched to Morristown 11 miles. The day we marched to Morristown was rainy and so was the next and we remained in camp during the 29th. The rain carried away the railroad bridge over Flat Creek between Strawberry Plains and Knoxville but they have got it [unclear: returned ] now I believe. On the first of March we received orders to fall back to Mossy Creek and accordingly we did so and we have been in camp here since. I do not know what the reason for falling back was but it is said that Gen Schefield had orders from Gen. Grant not to advance further than five miles beyond Strawbery Plains but I do not know how true it is. Longstreet and his army are reported to be all the other side of Bulls Gap all but a few cavalry. Some of their cavalry came down as far as this place the other day scouting round and drove in our cavalry pickets and attacked our infantry pickets but they found out we were here which was probably all they wanted and then retreated. We had one man belonging to the 17th Michigan wounded. Part of our regiment was sent out to support the pickets at the time of the attack. Col. Morrison went out with us. Col M. is a brave soldier he went ahead of us to find out what he could about the enemy he did call on some private to go. He wen out to a cornfield ahead of us and there he saw a rebel riding along a little ahead of him. The rebel drew his pistol or attempted to but Col. M. got his out first and told the rebel to surrender which he did. He proved to be a drunken rebel lieutenant. He was so drunk he could not walk straight when he got off his horse. He had on one of our overcoats and Gen. [unclear: Feners ] who was out also told our boys if any of them wanted it to take it so one of them went and got it. The bridge at Strawberry Plains is about half done I understand. We do not hear so much talk about going north to recruit now as we did though it is still said we shall go with Barnside when he goes which will not be till the middle of May. I do not place to much dependace on going at all however for I should not be surprised if we had to stay here. I am glad to hear that father is getting along so well give my love to him. I have received your letters of the 7th and 20th and Mary of the 18th of Feb. I have also received some papers. I get a good many papers from you and am very glad to get them but presume I do not get all you send. But I have got most to the end of my sheet and I must close.
My love to Mary and yourself.
from your son
E.W. Stacy.
E. Waldo Stacy of the 36th Massachusetts Infantry. The letter details the events of February 23-March 9, 1864.
Source (and location of digital images of the letter): MS-2743 http://idserver.utk.edu/?id=200600000001245
