| Title: | R.H. Kelly, Bridgeport, Alabama to "Dear Parents" |
|---|---|
| ID | 1603 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Kelly, Robert H/9 |
| Year | 1864 |
| Sender | Kelly, Robert H. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | soldier |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Bridgeport, Alabama, USA |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | The Kelly Family Documents: Copyright Retained by The Ulster American Folk Park |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 300007 |
| Date | 20/04/1864 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 14:03:00. |
| Word Count | 442 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Bridgeport Ala [Alabama?] April 20th/64 My Dear Parents - I read yours of the 13th yesterday and was truly glad to hear you were all well & enjoying yourselves as Liz wrote me Mother had been quite ill. We still are quartered at this point 28 miles west of Chattanooga & on the Tennessee river. All is quiet so far as hostilities are concerned - But otherwise everything bears the appearance of activity. In fact the movements in every department are strongly indicative of Action ere long. I am still well and enjoy very good health. The weather is becoming very warm. The season here is fully one month behind You find very little agricultural pursuits carried on here - fences - horses - and almost all kind of farming implements being lost or destroyed and everywhere you see the impress of man and its attendant consequences. April 30th Lookout Valley Tenn [Tennessee?] Since I commenced this we have moved for the front. Changed our quas [quarters?] at Chattanooga and expect to move on now to the front Every preparation is being made for the coming campaign, the hospitals in and around Chattanooga have been emptied of their occupants who are sent to the rear, New and extensive hospitals are being erected. Hospital Cars & Ambulances are accumulating, and troops rapidly moving to the front day and night. All is quiet yet, so far as fighting is concerned - very quiet - But it is that quiet which always precedes the storm. It is very difficult to predict when Gen [General?] Grant may make his initial movement, But God grant him success whereon & where ever it be made - I had a letter from Liz last week of the 20th. Ham & her Mother were better. They were all well at East Liberty But I suppose you have all the lats [latest?] news from there. Now that we are on the move I will have little or no chance to write I would not wish Ellen to do anything in my case during Mr Drakes absence, to incur his displeasure or compromise her duties & relations with him. I appreciate fully & truly the kind & sisterly feeling which promts [prompts?] her. Give my love to her & Doll I would write but I have not indeed the time nor chance. I would like to get a letter from them. I will try & write soon to them. A soldier is always the victim of circumstances. My love to the children tell Bell Uncle Bob has not forgotten her and will try and answer that very kind letter of hers. Hoping you are all well, and I will hear from you soon. I remain Affectionately Your Son R.H. Kelly address R.H. Kelly [Knapis?] Pa [Pennsylvania?] Battery 2nd Div. 20th Army Corps Via Nashville |
