August 24, 1862. Tina & her children spent the day here, in the afternoon it rained & Henry went home with W- & Lewis to stay all night as Tina was to stay here. After supper who should come but Clark from his trip to Smyrna after salt.

 

[Rebecca] August 24, 1862. Mrs Stephens & family here to pass the day. Rain all the afternoon Henry goes home with her boys to stay over night while she remains here – Mr S- arrives about 8 o’clk with salt brought from Smyrna.

 

[Willie Bryant to Rebecca Bryant]  

                                                                                                In Camp Aug 24, 1862

My dear Mother,

                I wrote you not long since that we wd. soon cross the Tennessee river & join the army to advance toward Nashville so you will not be surprised to learn that we are now encamped 4 miles beyond Chattanooga; we crossed on Wednesday p.m. & after marching a distance of about 8 miles that afternoon (from our old camp) over this hilly country & dusty roads, we were pretty well tired out when we camped that night; the first days journey was of course hard on us, unused to a hilly country too, & then we were all overloaded in our anxiety to carry luxuries; the first night we camped on the side of a hill so steep that we lay with our feet down against trees or large stones to keep from sliding; the next morn'g we went about 1 1/2 miles & soon after were obliged to change camp & retrace our steps some distance to get into our right position, & have now been stationary two days, which has made us fresh & better than new & ready for another move; we are all over now but must wait several days longer for all the waggon trains to cross, & a road to be cleared out, before we can take up our line of march; our first start is to climb up a very steep mountain, & then for a number of miles the road is comparatively level & good, I am told; we are camped at the foot of what is termed "Walden's Ridge," under a perpendicular cliff of more than 200 ft in height, & in a thick hammock where if it were not for the countless stones we might possibly imagine ourselves in Fla, the growth being principally pine, oak, & hickory; we are now without tents & with scarcely any cooking utencils for such a number of men, carrying only what the demands of nature actually require; when we move each man carried his bread & meat for 2 days (or longer) already cooked in his haversack, his canteen of water by his side, & his bed & wardrobe on his back; I have reduced my wardrobe to 2 flannel shirts, 2 prs wool socks, 1 pr drawers, 2 prs pants, 1 thick Jacket, 2 silk hadkfs, & have an oil cloth besides; With other little things, I carry in my knapsack a box pills, a small quantity of E. Salts, some cayenne pepper, a btl linement & plenty of soap; when we wish tents, two make a tent of one blanket & a bed of the others & sleep together, & I am now writing under such a tent ‑ hurrah! letters have arrived & I hear my name called out; sure enough I have one, & from you dearest Mother, it bears dates of Aug 8th. 9th. & 10th. but was not mailed by the p.m. at Welaka till the 17th. & consequently was only 6 days or less in reaching Chattanooga.

                Your letter as you say is written in a sad & desponding state, but it gives me joy to hear from you & I am glad that you write me as you feel, & should complain if you did not, for I know your situation & feelings & almost yr thoughts, & did you try to make me think differently about them you could not; I expect you to write just as everything is with you; I only wish you had a more hopeful disposition, & some of the "trust‑to‑luck" & a little of the "don't‑care" which I possess, & O! if you only felt the enthusiasm in this cause which I do, & could feel as willing to give me up as a sacrifice for it as I am to suffer it, I wd. feel so differently, & it seems to me wd. be perfectly happy; & I do often & earnestly pray that as your lot is so hard that you may have some change of feeling, & the comfort, & support of the Holy Spirit.  I have been better satisfied ever since leaving Mobile than I have ever been before in the service; I am fond of excitement & change, & to see all that I can & to realise varied sensations, am willing to endure trials & hardships; I glory in experience, & with my determination am unsatisfied until my wishes are gratified; I know now that I can endure as much as most men, & with more fortitude & cheerfulness, & take a pride in it; I still retain my good health & my strength increases & feel no fear to take my position among men under any circumstances; I am not yet satisfied & willing to stop.  The service has been of incalculable benefit to me in health & experience; I have seen & learned much that I would never have done in a quiet & easy life which will be of benefit to me in after life, if I am spared, & am willing to take the chances & have the conviction that all will be well; it is only the thoughts for those I love that gives me any uneasiness or trouble; try to feel satisfied that my wishes are only being fulfilled that I know the worst & am willing to endure it to have them gratified, & resign me to it as cheerfully as possible; for your sake I shall be prudent & careful under all circumstances.  Without me you still have much to comfort you, & hope for in yr other children, & may God help you to feel so, & soothe your thoughts & troubled spirit.

                You speak of the sorrow you will feel in leaving yr children as if something that will occur, & it pains me to know that such a thought has entered your mind; none of them would be willing to live away from you, & their happiness, if nothing else, will demand that they be with you always; if I am spared my life shall be devoted to you, & tho' I do not now feel toward my father as you wish, I do not entertain such an extent of feeling as I infer you suppose, I cannot but respect his memory & retain affection for him & still expect to share many joys with him, tho' my love & feelings of pride & honor have recd. a severe blow from his course.

                I have written you lately since recv’g the one you mention sending to Mobile, & before this you probably know of all my doings at Chattanooga. In one of my letters I told you to direct to me at Knoxville, & I think Aunt J- has written me at that place, so I wrote the P.M. there to forward any letters for me to Chattanooga. Write me occasionally, directing to Chattanooga, as the mail will follow us – You shall hear from me as frequently as possible. Davis’ letter, or letters, have not yet reached me, & one from Miss Hattie mailed at Lake City took as long as yrs to reach me.

                Hattie wrote me a long & very friendly letter many expressions being elicited by some [misanthropical?] expressions in mine to her; she mentions that Peyre passed a night in Welaka in passing thro’ & learned that you were all well, & says they wd. have written by him had they known he was going to Welaka; Lou had just rtd. from a visit to Jv’lle & she had just gone down to be with her grandmother awhile.

                I was much surprised the other evening to receive a note from Beckie Foster written from Savannah on their way to Aiken to spend a short time for a change, & also to learn that they had chanced to meet Aunt Julia on some train; Miss Rebecca gave her my direction at Knoxville, not then knowing I was at Chatanooga, which I suppose is the reason I have not heard from her. I think I will write Lizzie before we start from here – I shall write Davis immediately – As I think of nothing more to add I think I will write Henry a few lines on the other ½ sheet.

                Middle Tennessee will probably soon be the principal point of interest & I suppose the papers will contain accounts of some of our doings before long, & I trust they will be glowing ones ‑ Again let me impress upon you to believe all is well with me until you are assured to the contrary. There are Bryans & Bryants even – without number, in this army & regmt - & a Bryan in this co. (H) & I shall write, or get some on to write you immediately after any occurance of interest.

                With much love & many kisses to you all I am

                                                                                                Yours always in love

                                                                                                Willie