Oscar Chapin - March 24, 1864 - Nashville, TN

Camp Smith Tenn Mar the 24 1864

Dear Mother i take my pen in hand to let you know how i am a getting along we are three miles east of Nashville Tenn i met our regament at the first station west of Decater [Decatur] we got on the train and started east we run to Serrogordo [Cerro Gordo] and the engine broke downs and we layed there from nine o Clock that night untill the next day at twelve then we started again we came through the great sity of Philo about two o Clock i could hardly keep from jumping of there i took a god look at the old home and thought of you all and thought good by we was on the cars two days and three nights and when we got here they took us to the largest hotell in the sitty when we went to dinner we had a bole of bean soop and a slice of bread and no knife nor fork or spoon to eat it with there was five thousand soldiers there there was three hunded and sixtyfive rooms in the house we stayed there one day and night and then moved to Camp Smith where we still remain i have gave you a detale of our trip we have not got our horses yet nor we have not got our arms i have been on guard once since i have been back that was last night give my respects to all of the boys and my love to the young ladies tell Tom the next dance that he goes to to dance two times for me

tell eEng to do the same though i suppose Eng will be gone before this gets there if not let him have a little of the love well i must close for this time so no more

From Oscar