The Risley Family Letters

Special thanks to Mary Risley Williams for submitting these letters and the picture below.

Note: The letters below are a compilation of letters written mostly by Pvt. Jackson Risley, 42nd Indiana, Co. G.  There are also a few letters written by Jackson's brother, Pvt. Harrison Risley (Co. G), and by Pvt. William Done (Co. G), who was a cousin to both Jackson and Harrison Risley.  Harrison Risley was killed at or near Resaca, Georgia, on May 15, 1864, presumably at the Battle of Resaca.  He is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Jackson and Mary "Molly" Risley (His Second Wife)

Camp Vanderburg, October 2nd, 1861

Dear sir itake my (pen) In hand to in form that iam well at present and hoping that thees fue Tins may find you all injoying the same health and iwould like to hear from you all we are all agiting along very well thear has ben three compnys cam in since we cam in dunahas compny cam in this morning direct you letters to camp vanderburgh Mccarty compny we draud the blankets about one half of an hour ago but idont know when we will draw the rest of our unafor but idont expecked we will get it untell the compny is fool and they are athinking it will be fool in a weeke or two Sonomore

from
Jackson Risley to William Risley

idont know how long we will stay hear fur they are alooking for the rebels to attact Evansville now every day yestrday they wore in fourteen miles of the town they have tuck the two upper locks and they have been fighting offonon now for two or three day ihavant heard how they hav made it theare are teen compnys now in heare now but they are not fool this is the forty second ridgement from this state

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Camp Denby, November 18th, 1861

Dear father it is with plesure that itake my pen in my hand to let you know that iam well and ihope that wen these fue line you may guit they may find you enjoying the same blesings we have not puled off our Close since we Came in kentucky to sleepe we expeckede to have to fight last friday night for they v/are Clost to us and last saturdy there wose about seve hundred Came here and part of them was Calvery men it wase part of them from Owens-(bie?) mack Robinson and torn Robinson and dave Campbell is in the Calvery Compy and thare was about twenty of the infry men left here this moning to go back where they Came from with the mesels and and iwas on the boat aguarding when they got on the boat and part of the Calvery Compny is gon back agin we are a look forty third Ridgment to mory but whether they v/ill Come or not idont know the kentucky Ridgment that is here has got one secession under guard now but i dont know what they will do with him but ithink he aught to hang him he killed a little boy the other day they are ordering them out in ranks now but what they want with idont know but idont think they want any thing withe them ijust Come off of guard this moring and idont of feel as well as imight we haft to stand guard on every rode aroun here and let no body pass going from town in a wagon or bugy but what we haft to examing them and the same way on the worf boat let no body on the steam boat without apass if they dont be long to the boat iwant you to write soon for ihant got nery letter since ihave ben on this side of the river sonomore

from Jackson Risley
to William Risley

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Camp Denby, Kentucky, November 21st, 1861 (This Letter is from William Done)

Dear uncle it is with plesure that itake my pen in hand to let you know that iam well and hoping that thees fue lines may find you enjoying the same blesing last Saturday thare wose six hundred infry men Came here Saturday and about four hundred Calvery men to and they left last tuesday all but one Company of the Calvery and asunday night they ketched a secssion and kep him ( ) they started and they put him in the ranks and made him march with them we hav ben Cald out after night three times for a battle and as it haptin it was fals relarms but some of them was scared so bad they Cudent of a loded if the orders had ben given our Compny beet out on the battle ground two minuets and marched a round the flag and back to ther place istod guard two day and nights since we Came in an enemys Country and igot along very well the last night they was a soldier out and wanted to Come in and i wodnt let him and he swore he would kill me and iput the baynet aganst his paunck and would a stuck it in him o if he had a moved and iCould for the Corpel of the guard and he Came and he got awy from us all we have got twenty lods of aminition apeace the forty third Ridgement is at Camp Jons and it will be down here to morrow thare is one thing idont like and that is the ladys a struting around our Quarters and icant guit a holt of them iexpeck we will all guit home aganst spring and marria iwould like to see you all remain S we dont know what day or our we will leave here Direct you letter to Camp Denby henderson Co kentucky in the Care of Capt MCcarty 42 gond vols sonomore

from William Doane (William Done?, Pvt., Co. G)
to William Risley

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South Carlton, Mulenburgh (?) County Kentucky, January the 25th, 1862

Dear father is is withe plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present hoping that these fue lines may find Enjoying the same blesing we are A looking for A natuck here every day and every night of A bout fifteen thousand sesh we are A Carting down timber A round the Camp to resist Cavlary and A throwing up intrenchment to resist them we have A bout eight or nine thousand union trops hire besids the Artilery and the Cavlary and if they Come we will try theme I expct we will have A fight before long here or somers els not for off we have got slabs bilt up A round and then put our tent upon theme and got good fire places to theme we can do very will if hit dont turn too Cold the next day after we Come here lots of theme in this Reg and others Reg they went out and gist si ad the hogs and Cattle and turkeys Chickens sheep and fetched them in to Camp and had plenty fresh meat and they keep fetching theme in so they had to detail ten men out of every Compny sop them and put theme in the guard house but as hit hapind they wasent nary man in our Compny that even got the meat to eat in sted the ones that killed hit Harrison and William Done is out A Cuting timber or A throwing up intrenchment one or the others now Perry and Frank sent me A leter and I say to you too that I was glad to here from you both and hear that you was well and was trying to learn all you Could Perry and Frank I would like to see you mity well but I fearhit will be along time be I will to see you for I am A way here in a sesh land and the sesh hant for off I hant got much to rite sonomore from

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

When this you see
Remember me

A specimen of my penmanship
(Signed, Jackson Risley)

*******

Camp Andrew Jackson, March the 17th, 1862

Dear Father it is with plesure that I take my pen in to let you know that I am well except A bad Cold William Done is A giting beter and Harrison is A giting beter we have got marching orders now A gin to go A way down in Alabama the fifty Eight Regiment is Camped in A bout one mile of here I seed A good many of the boys yestrday you Can tel mister Jackson that I seen Joseph yesterday and he is as fat as A bare and I seen uncle William Ashby and he is well and I seen Jacob and Henry Brinton and Lingy (?) holder and the hadlock boys and A good many others I Cant name over all of theme they was all well that I seen James A Rodarmels is down in town sick James and Noah miller I dident see theme but Harrison was over there and seen theme they both have got the momps nor I dident Jesse Crow nor David Robinson but Harrison seen theme and they-was well we have tuck Down our tents to start but I am a gointo stay here and all of our bunk fellers is A gointo stay here tel the Reg stops and then we are A gointo go A round on A boat to it I Comenced this leter the seventeenth of this mounth and now it is the ninteenth day our Regt started on A march yesterday and got A Bout three milles from tov/n they was orderd back for the fight was over and they pased by A goin to mumph fordsburrow where they will have A fight there I am astaying in Nashville Tennessee Harrison and will and John is here too will has had the mumps but he is A giting A bout well of theme that is the reson that he dident go with the Regt and the reson that I dident go withe it I was ant very well and I had A bad Cold be sides and the reson that Harrison and John Me Carty dident go was they wasnot very well we see some pirty hard times here I dont have any ide when we will git with our Regt A gain

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

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Wartrace Tenn., April 28th, 1862

Dear father it is withe pleasure that I Seat my Self this morning to let you now that I am well hoping that these fiew lines may find you all well I hant got nary letter from home for Six weeks Jackson is well Done is Sick John is Sick we expect to leave here to day for a Seventy miles march we have drawed new Shoes and hats and Some little money and I started ten dollars home and Jackson ten Done twenty all in one envelope we Sent hit the way that we Sent the other John Dident Send any you will have to to over after hit I thought that I would keep Some money for when a fellow gits Sick he cant git any thing that he caneat without he buy hit we only drawed for two monts I hant got time to wright any more at present

Harrison Risley
to William Risley

Wright Soon Direct to the 42 Regimnt Ind vols

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Fayetteville, State of Tennessee, May 25th, 1862

Dear Father it is with plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am Well at present hoping these few lines may find you all Enjoying good health I Recived your letter yesterdday and Harrison got one they was both roat A bout the same time I was glad to hear that you was all well and that was the first letter that I had got since the sixt of April but harrison got one little better than A weeke A go that was rote the 8 of may and it sed that you hat just comensed Planting corn the day be fore William Done started home last Friday with the cacklation of giting A Discharge I thot that I would put it in this letter for I doant know which will git there first he is gon home and John M-Carty is Dead he Dide the 2 day of this month and I Feel kind A lonsom now since they are boath gon they is one thing I want to tell you A bout that is I started me and Harrison staarted our overcoats and shorte coats home and they is two capes and I have got two shirts and one pair of Draurs they are Boxed up in A Box and if William Done dont fetch hit they will go to El is house and if I send any more tneney home you can git theme close too if Will dont fetch theme he was so sick that when he left hear that I was A feard that he coudent tick care of them I hearde Lincoln had Cauled out A hundred thousand more men but whether it is so or not I dont no I heard to day that they was A unaforming the nigers in Missourie I dont know how long we will stay hear I think we will leave hear for Huntsvill be fore long I have no Ide when we will git home now I and harrison Boath could of A got A Discharge when we was at Nashville but we woudent tak hit but if I hade A nod that thinges would A turned as they have I would a tucke it then but I hope that I wont git sick A nuff to think A bout giting A dischange while I am in the servics any more Harrison is one guard to day and I will be on guard to morrow that is if I keep Able to 1 sed that I was well but I (Tide) A little of it I have got A Bad coald and the head ache A little I blieve is all that ales me now you sed that george Risley was but you dident say what was the matter with hime how may acers of corn are you A gointo put in this year I would like to be there to help you but I cant git A while I hant got much to rite this time so I will hafto fetch my letter to A close sonomore

only Remaines your truley son untel Death

Jackson Risley
ToWilliam Risley

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Huntsville Alabama, July 3rd, 1862

Dear Sister it is with grate that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am not very well at this time but I hope when these few lines Comes to hand they will find you Enjoying health I recived your kind letter last Saturday which was the 28 of June I was glade to hear from you and to hear that you was well I would like to be at home but I dont know whether I will Ever git there or not for I am A long ways from home and I hant well nother if you hear of William Done I would like to know what has becom of him (-oud) that he would of A rote to me be four now but I hant never heard nothing of him since he left the regt Mandy I feel so bad I will haf to bring my letter to A Close by saying remain you afectonated brother untel death sonomore from

Jackson Risley
To Amanda Risley

A few lines To William Risley it is with plesure that I take my pen in hand drop you few lines to let you know that I am not very well at this time but I hope theys few lines may find you Enjoying good health I wanted to tel you that that money started home this morning it is A gointo El is house where the other went they is fifty Dollars of hit five tens Dollars bills twent five of it is mine and twent five is Harisons you Can go an git it as as this letter Comes for if it goes will bee (there) by the time you Can git the ( ts) and shirts and Caps two theme too if you hant went after theme yit that is A bout all at present sonomore at present from

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

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State of Alabama
Camp Taylor Huntsville
42nd Vol in Care of Captin McCarty
July 28th, 1862

Dear Father it is with grate plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know how I am I am not very well at present nor hant bin for severl days but I feel better to day than I have for severl days but I hope that these few lines will find you in good health I recived your kind letter day before yesterday and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well and A Giting A long so well as you are I would like to see you all mity well and more than that I would like to be at home A working in A tobaco patch rother than to be hear and I would be there if I Could git there for they hant A fight for nothing now onley to free these blame negroes and that reason I would like to be at home for A soldiers life is A hard one any way you may take it as A private any how for I have it ten months now A bout one hundred and fifty men was Calad out las night A bout too o clock to go off some wherse one the Carse they was ten out of this Company they is plent rebels in Eight miles of us they are A go into try to take this town back A gain but I think they will hafto fight if they git it back they was A little scurmishing out on the far lines of pickets las night over on the other side of town from hear I hant got mutch to rite so I will hafto bring my letter to A Close sonomore onley remains your ofectionated Son Untel Death from

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

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Camp Taylor, Huntsville, Ala., August 17th, 1862

Dear father it is with greet pleasure that I Seat my Self to answer your kind letter whitch Come to hand to day and i was glad to hear that (you) was all well it was write august the 8 that was my birth day and it ( ) the first (one) that ( had) got ( ) about two weeks I am well at present hoping that these fiew lines Comes to hand that they may find you all well Jackson is well and done is well two and the boys all are in tolarable good health my eyes is gitting Sore a gain you Sed that you wanted to no whether I was Satisfied or not I am verry well Satisfied but I would like mighty well to be at home to See you all but if was I expect that I would go now the talk is that wee will go back to nashvill a gain (but) I dont no whether wee will or not if lafayette Risley Come if he Can fetch that watch hand I wish that you would send it to me for I think I Could Sell it for a purty good price but if he dont Come you nedent to try to Send it wee have got a Spelling match in our Company to night but I thought that I would answer your letter Corn is all gitting two hard to for roasten years and peaches is gitting purty near plaid out water millions sells for twenty five Cents to one Dolar and Some times more I want you to tell lafayette if he goes in the armey for to Come back with the lieutenent you Sed that you wanted whether I got ary letter that told me about gitting that money and over Coats this made two letters that told me about it and I wrote in the other letter that you Sed that you had got them wee drill twice a day and Some times three times I Just Come off of guard this morning and my eyes being Sore I Cant wright to do mutch good So I will have to bring my letter to a Close sonomore at present from

Harrison Risley
to William Risley
wright Soon

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Camp Near New Market Ky., October 27th, 1862

Dear Father it is with grate plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at this time I hant recived ary letter from you since I rote before but I thot that I wood rite you A few lines to let you no that we had Draud our money and when you Could go and Git what I sent home I sent thirty Dollars and William Done sent fifty Dollars you Will hafto to to Washington to git it go to Dock Harrol there in Washington at the Trinton office they is Eighty Dollars in the invelop Harrison Dident send any this time I cant send it any Closer than Washington by the Captin not being hear I want you to go and git hit as soon as you git this letter and take thirty Dollars out an put it with my other money the other fifty Dollars is Dones (William Done, Co. G?) we got pade for three months Laffeyette got hear yesterday morning I seen Daniel yesterday and to day to he pased hear A goin on to his Regt we are A goin to leave hear in the morning or the next day one of the too for Colingreen or Nashville one I blieve is the talk I want you to be shore and go after that money as soon as you git this letter at Dock Harrol in Washington I hant got mutch to rite this time onley to tel you A bout our money I must bring my letter to A close sonomore from

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

*******

Camp Lane Tenn., Near the Tyree Springs, November the 26th, 1862

Dear Father it is with Plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present hoping that these few lines may find you all Enjoying good health I thot that I would rite you A few lines to day to let you know how I was A giting A long I would like to see you all mity well if I Could git to and I will tel you what I want you to do if you will I want you to git me A hoe made pare of boots and send theme to me by the Captin if he Comes be twen now an Christmas or Newes years ary one git theme at huntns burgh Send me nomber tens and Harrison wants you to Send hem A pare of nines boots is Seven Dollars hear and they hant nothing Extry neither if you Can send theme by the Captin if you that is if the Captin comes be twen now an Newes years I want a pare A bout that time if I dont git some from there I will hafto buay A pare they are mity Dear hear I heard from Done yesterday and he is A doing first Strate down there A guarden A Tan yard he has A house to stay in down there send theme boots to us if you can if it wont be too much Truble to you Harrison and Lafayette is tolerble well at present it loks mity like Snow hear to day you wanted to no whether Done got his revolver or not he has got hit Lafayette fetched it throu with him I hant got mutch to rite this time so I will haf to bring my letter to A Close Sonomore From

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

*******

Camp Near Murfreesboro, Tenn., January the 9th, 1863

Dear Father it is With plesure that I am permitted once more to rite you A few lines to let you know that I at present hoping that these few lines may find you all in the same good health I hant got nery letter from you for better than two Weeks Now I will tel you A little A bout our Battle hear at this town we started from Near Nashville for this place the twenty sixt day of last nomth and it Rained all that and the Next it rained pirtnere all day and we had to march in it that was Saturday the 27 of last month we Could hear the Canons all that day the next day Could hear A few Canons but we dident march that that e tel in the even we started and marched all night Nearly and the next Morning we was in three miles of te Enemy and they Comenced Comen them and scurmishen with theme and they fell back to there main forse and the next morning we started on after them that was Tuesday the 30 day and got near A nuff to hear them A fighten and we lay ther that night and the next Morning we started at Six o clock to make they A tack for that days fight we marched down in frunt and was ordered to stack Arms and we stud there A few menuets and then we tuck armes and was ordered in double quick for A A bout A half of A mile and we was haul ted an frunted and orderd to lay down and in A few minuets the Enemy Com and it wasent long tel our boys was Cut Down fast it wasent over one hour after we comenced fighten tel Laffayette was wounded and Harrison and one of the other boys started to take him off of the field and they Coudent git him off but he was tuck off by some body els but where he was tuck too I cant tel whether he is A live or not I cant tel they fight lasted Eight days Sonomore from

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

*******

Camp near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, January the 28th, 1863

Dear Father it is with great pleasure that I seat my self to answer your kind letter whitch I Just resieved of the 16 and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well I am well at present hoping when these fiew lines Comes to hand they will find you inJoying the same good health Jackson is well except a soar throat and done is able for dewty and lafayette we hant heard from since the fight it has been raining and snowing now for three or four days and it snowed all night last night and is snowing yet to day a little it snowed about shoe mouth deep last night and is melting off to day wee went out the other day aforegin and they boys fetched in Just loads of Chickens they Just ketched every Chicken that they Could find I dont no how long we will stay here they news is here that the secesh has reinforsed fifty two regiments and old long street has super seeded old Braggs the talk is that we will hav to fight here a gain but I think it is all talk I would like to be at home to go to School and would like to see you and tell you all my hard ships and tell you all about the battle you sed that you heard that the 58 was Cut all to u peaces but you hadent heard any thing about the 42 it was Cut up worse than the 58 for there wasent but eleven killed in they Regiment and not half as many wounded a Canon ball Struck Noah Miller in the head and tore his head off lafayette was wounded in the bowles and there is four of the boys that we hant heard any thing of Since the fight So we dont no wheather they are dead or not things is mighty high here I draw more Sugar than I make use of and Coffee two for I dont hardly ever drink any and I wish that you had it for I expect that Coffee and Sugar is deer there for I dont have no use for it here I was over in town on guard the other day and I got me some flower and had some Cake but I dident have no sody to put in them but they eat tolerable well without Soda I hant got mutch to wright at present Sonomore at present from

Harrison Risley to
William Risley

wright soon and give me all the News

*******

Camp Near Murfreesboro, Tenn., February 19th, 1863

Dear sister it is With grate plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am Well at present hoping When these few lines Comes to hand they may find you injoying good health I recived your kind leter yisterday Was Dated Feb the 4 and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you Was Will I Would like to be at home to see you and to go to school with you but I am A gitting A schooling hear that I will not for git soon f Shore but I hope and trust to god that I may git home A gain and live in peace once more but I fear it is A long time be fore I Will git back A gain Hariette I hant got mutch to rite and I am in A hurrey so I Will hafto bring my few lines to A close from

Jackson Risley
toHarriette Risley

*******

Camp Near Murfreesboro, Tenn., February 19th, 1863

Dear sister it is With plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you that that I am Well at present hoping that these few lines may find you injoying good health I recived your kind letter yisterday Which was Dated Feb the 4 and I Was glad to hear from you and to hear that you Was Well Manda I would like to be at home to see you all mity well but it is so that I Cant be there Manda I hant got mutch to rite this time soiwill hafto bring my letter to A Close by sing Write soon from

Jackson Risley to
Amanda Risley

*******

Murfreesboro Tennessee, May 1st, 1863

Dear Father it is with great pleasure that i seat myself to answer your kind letter whiten i resieved last eavening dated the 23 of last month and i was glad to hear that you was well i am well at present hoping these fiew lines will find you enjoying the Same good health Jackson and done is well wee drawed two monts pay the other day and wee are going to start it home to day it is all one dolar billes and wee hant puting it in envelops for it would make two big a bulk i am sending 25 dolars and Jackson is sending 21 dolars and William done is Sending 20 dolars whiten makes 66 dolars in all and you will have to go to Miss MCormicks to git it where you got the other and you will have to let her count it out to you Captain MCormick i is going to Send a list of it who it is from and who gits it and how mutch they send so i dont think they will be any difaculty a tall they was fighting out in front day before yeasterday and in the eavening we got orders to be ready to march at amoments warning but wee dident go i dont guess that wee will work any more now we have got the work purty near dun and wee will have to go in front to morrow they Say but i dont no whether we will go to morrow ornot but wee will in afiew days my how wee have to drill four ours to days and to marrow if wee dont leave here wee have drawed Shelter tents that is only bicj anough for two to stay in and wee have to carry them and all of our clothes and every thing else that wee have got and two or three days rations but i have got use to that i would like to See you mighty well but the chance looks bad at this time if they do Send us in front and wee have to fight wee will give them half of it i would like to be there to help to roll logs but when i come home i want peace made so that i can live in peace rite soon from

Harrison Risley to
William Risley

*******

Murfreesboro, Tennessee, June the 12th, 1863

Dear Father it is with Plesure that I take my Pen in Hand to let you know that I am Well at Present hoping these few lines may find you all in good health I recived your kind let to day was Dated June the ..6. and I was Glad to hear that you was all well and glad to hear that you was A Doing well I would like to see you all mity well but as the time is I Cant git to see at this time we are still A laying hear yit under marching orders with three Days Rashion in our haver sacks but I Cant tel when we will go but I would little Rother stay hear and let the others go on in frunt you sed that you wanted to know what Division we was in we are in general Negleys Division it is the first Brigade and the second Division is what we are in we hafto Drill Brigade Drill twice A Days we have Got one Just as good A Brigdier General as they is out and William T. B. MCintire is our comander of the regt and he makes Just the best Cind of A Comander We are A gointo have in spection to Days this is June the 13 and it is all Quiet this morning hear you was A talking A bout that bok(?) Defindol(?) land and I for got to ask you how much they was of it how much Corn are you A puting in this year you sed in your other letter that you wanted to know what the pepole was A Doing Down hear whether they was A farming any or not it is but little Close A round hear as far out as I have ben it but little Corn that I seen but they say that they are A raisin good Crops Down in Alabama and gorgia but I Dont know nothing A bout that country Down there this year well I hant got much to rite this time so I will bring my letter to A close sonomore at this time from

Jackson Risley To
William Risley

*******

Dechard Station, Tennessee, August 7th, 1863

Dear Father it is with plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that that I am well at present hoping these few lines may find you all in good health I recived A letter from Day be fore yesterday and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well I would like to See you all mity well if it was so that I Could well I Expect that we will leave hear be fore many Days for they is Severl of the troops got marching orders now and we are a goint to Draw seven Days Rations this eavening and that is A pirty good sign of leavning and I seen the signel flags A working this morning and that is A nother mity good Sign of us A goen they are A loking for A fight on the other side of the Tennesee River then that has bin up to Bridge Part sais that, they Can see plenty of Rebels on the other Side of the River I expect that wee will hafto go on in A few days by the orders that we git hear the last Day or too I was on Provo guard yesterday over in town in town I said it is not A much of A town but Still they keep Provoguards in it to keep the sitizens from Runing A bout we make them stay to there proper place I sed that they was prospects of us A marching well they is but I had Rother not march the weather got a little Cooler but if they officers says go I will go as far as I Can with them well all quite in the armery of the Comberlernd well this is mity piece Wrighting that I ame A doing now but I recon that you can Read it the reson that it hant rote any better the paper and pen aint any A Count the paper has ben wet once is the reson that it is so no Count I ant got much to rite so I will hafto Close my letter sonomore at present From

Jackson Risley to
William Risley

I for got one thing that I expect that I will hafto send this letter with out any stamp

*******

Camped Near Stevenson Craw Creek Valley, Alabama, August 22nd, 1863

Dear Father it is with great pleasure that I Seat my Self to answer your kind letter whiten i resieved yeasterday and i was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well i resieved two letter and they told us about your gitting our money that was all right wee left Dechard the 16 of this month and wee was four days Coming here and wee had a purty Rough time Coming over the mountain i expect that wee will Stay here aright smart while our brigade is detailed to Cut Cord wood i heard to day that wee had to Cut Six thousand Cords and if wee have that mutch to Cut wee will Stay here a good while wee are Camped four miles from Stevenson where wee are Surrounded by mountains in a valley on a little Creek Called Craw Creek i went up on the mountain yeasterday and looked over and i Could See as fur as my eyes would let me the rebels hant fur from here but the tennessee river is between us and the bridge is burnt but they are fetchen the pontaones Bridges here by Car loads and it wont take them but a little while to git a bridge made a Crass the river and then wee Can Cross over and take Chattnuga but i expect that wee will have to fight Some before wee take it them Deburler boys will bee at home in a fiew days to Stay i guess for they are Discharged they was left at Dechard when wee left there but i dont no where they are now i hant resieved nary letter from Harriette nor mandy for two or three weeks I am well at at present hoping these fiew lines will find you all enjoying the same good health Jackson and will is boath well they boys is purty near all gone afishen to night wee have verry hot and dry weather dow here i would like verry well to See you and all the rest of the folk i hant got mutch to right it is gitting late and i will have to Close from

Harrison Risley to
William Risley
rite Soon

*******

Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 3rd, 1863

Dear Father it is with plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am Well at present hoping these few lines may find you all in good health I recived your kind letter yesterday and I Was glad to hear from you and to hear that you Was Well but Harriette I Was sorrow to hear that shee Was not Well I hope that the momps Wont hurt her I would like to see you all mity Well if it was so that I could your letter Was Dated Septem the .19. We are still a working on the forts hear and Can see the Rebels every Day We can set in our tents and see the Rebels tents very playn and they are a looking for a tack every minuet old Brag has ben Reinforsed by nearly all of the virgina forse and I heard yesterday that old lee him Self was hear I expect that they Will be one of the hardest fights hear that ever Was faught yit if we Can git any Reinforse hear which they say We will git but I Dont no whether we will git theme or not our Wounded fell in to the Rebels hands this last fight and they Sent out a flag of truse and had theme fetched in they got the last in yesterday the Rebels never tuck theme off of the field tel our men Went out there after theme and Some of theme lay there and Died they lay there five or six Days the ambulanceses Went out twice be fore they Could fetch theme all in and they Was a bout three hunderd in each trayn I tel you that they Was a loot of men Wounded in this fight and We are a lookin for to haf to fight a gain (any) Day We We cant tel What minuet they will Come on to us here they is plenty of them rite here in front of us We lost about a leven thousand in this fight and maby more than that Wounded and killed and taken Prisioners and they are a giting a round in our Rear of us they burnt about nine hundred Wagons for us yisterday be twen here and Stevenson and tuck a bout all of the Drivers prisioners and the Wagons was all loded with Clothing and provision and forrige for the horses and muels I tell you that that is a slam on us shure I Will Close my letter by saying I still Remain your afectionated son From

Jackson Risley to
William Risley

Harrison and Will is Boath Well

*******

Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 5th, 1863

Dear Father it is Withe Plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you that I am Well at Present (and) I hope that these few lines may find you all Well I Recived a letter from you yesterday and it Was Dated .Oct. the 23. and I was Glad to hear from you and to hear that you Was all Well I Would like to see you all mity well I Recived one from Hariette and one from Amanda and I was glad to hear from theme I thot that I Would only Right one letter to all three of you I thot that it Would Do as Well as to Right three for I hant Got much paper no how and it is pirty scearce artickle here We haft to go on picket every five Days here they are Still a Canonaden every day Som from boath Sides old (Jo) Hooker is a moven up on to theme Sloley on the Right flank We amen to take look out mountain he advances of a night and lays Still of a Day he fortyfies as he goes but Whether he Will be Suck sessful or not I Cant say but I hope that he Will be it is very Wet Weather here now it Rains every too or three Days We are a Doing on but mity little Rashens now shure some Days We git nothing and some We git a little beef With out any bread and When We Do git bread We git half Rashens and one frurth Rashens of Coffee and Shugar and no beens and Rise and Rotates nothing onley a little bread and meat and Shugar and Coffee and but little and I Cant tell When We will git any better but I say hold this place if We Do haft to live on half Rashens and A Rite Smart scanter than half Rashens for if We Give this place up to them a gain it Wont be got very easey a gain Harriette you said that you wanted to no if I node any thing of Jacob Crinten I Dont hant hern of him since I heard that he Was Wounded Harrison and Will is boath Well I look fourds to the next leven months to pass off then I think I Will quit soldiern for a Whille any how I think that if the Ware hant over by that time It Will be time for the second Relief to Come out and try it A While I hant got much to Right at this time So I Will Close my letter at Present Sonomore from

Jackson Risley to
William Risley

Wright Soon

*******

Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 22nd, 1863

Dear Father it is with great pleasure that I Seat my Self to answer your kind letter whitch I resieved yeastor day and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well I am well at present hoping these fiew lines will find all of you enjoying the Same good health Jackson and will is boath well wee Just Cam in off of two days picket this morning and it rained all the time tell last night and it Cleared up and is averry purty day to day wee had to take one hundred rounds of Catradges and and two days rations of grub wee was expecting afight but it was two wet and wee have got orders to have two days Cooked rations in our haverSacks I think that wee are going to have a big fight here now in afiew days or Close here they are Canonaden now aright Smart the rebels is deserting all the time Coming in giving them Selves up So they was three or four hundred Came in one night they was twelve or fifteen Cam in while wee was on this time where wee was they Say that they hant got nothing to eat onley wheat brand and beef and that they onley git one pound evry four days but I dont no whether it is So or not wee git purty plenty to eat now and afair prospect of gitting more wee have got Several big gunes here now that wee Can Shell all the rebel Camps with them I will have to Send this letter without aStamp for I hant got ary one here nor Cant git non but I have got plenty back in my knapsack but I dont no when I will git it whether ever or not and I am going to Send fifty Cents in this letter and I want you if you please Send the worth of it back in Stamps after you pay the postage out of it on this letter I dont like to Send it without aStamp but I will have it to do I got afiew lines from Harriett yeasterday and I hant time to answer it now but I will answer it to marow if I have time I hant got mutch to rite this time from

Harrison Risley to
William Risley

rite Soon

*******

Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 30th, 1863

Dear Father it is with great pleasure that I Seat my Self this morning to answer your kind letter vjhitch I resieved day before yeasterday and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all we! I am well at present hoping these fiew lines will find you all well Jackson and will is boath well onley Jackson got Slightly wounded but he is gitting about well again wee have had another hard fight and I Came threw Safe again and wee gust got back in Camp last night one week ago this eavening wee left Camp and went out in the riffle pits and lay there tell about midnight and and then marched out in front of them and lay there tell next eavening and they fought all day that day on lookout mountain and our men drove them back and about two oclock wee was ordered to go on the mountain and wee had alittle Creek to Cross and by the time wee got across it was dark and wee had to Climb it after dark and it had ben raining all day and about eight oclock wee was marched in front right under the fire of the rebels gunes to relieve the Skirmishers that was on the line and there was three of our boys wounded right there Samuel wratten (Samuel Rattan) was wounded and died the next day and thomas Mcracken (Thomas McCracken) was wounded in the Jaw and Jackson was wounded in the heel but has got about well and wee faught there tell two oclock next morning by moonshine and wee drove them away and next morning at bout Sun rise the old Stars and Stripes was hoisted upon lookout mountain and wee all gave her three harty Cheers and wee lay there tell about tenoclock and then wee marched down the mountain and marched over to the left in front of Missionary Ridge and formed aline of battle and marched up to the foot of the Ridge and by this time wee was in reach of the rebels guns and there Canon would Shot over us and wee Charged them out of four lines of breast works and wee had two wounded out of our Company there Darias C Wallace (David C Wallace) and James P Wallace was boath wounded they was brothers and wee whiped them off of the ridge and lay there that night and next morning wee drawed four days rations and Started after them and wee went about eight miles before wee ketched up with them and wee had a little Skirmish with them this was after night and wee Charged on there Camp but they heard us Coming and had left and fired the brides but wee got there before it burnt to hurt and put it out and wee lay there that night and our Company was Sent across the Creek to Search the town and to picket and wee Captured thirty prisoners that night and about two hundred Stand of armes and wee Captured a battery that night and next morning wee folowed after them and wee went about four miles and wee overtook them a gain and and they was up on white oak mountain and there wee had a right Smart fight with them but drove them from there and thee next day they was Som of the troops folowed them Seven or eight miles further but did not over take them and yeasterday wee Came back wee drove them about twenty five or thirty miles from here and they was still going yet they got the worst whipping this time that they ever got wee have taken eighty three peaces of artillery and between ten and eleven thousand prisoners and with less loss on our Side Nancy I am Sorrow to inform you that your brother was killed they was a rebel officer ketched him and Shot him and took all all of his money from him I Cant write this half as well as I Could tell it So I will Close from

Harrison Risley
To William Risley

I will have to Send this without a Stamp this is arebel envelop that I Captured the other night

*******

Chattanooga Tennessee, December the 13th, 1863

Dear Father it is With Plesure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am Well at Present hoping these few lines may find you all well and inJoying good health I Recived a letter from you to Day it Was Dated Dec. the 3 and I was Glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well and it told me a bout you a giting our Money and I was glad that you got it with out much treble and it told me a bout Miss Jackson a being Dead and I Was Sorrow to hear of so much Sickness a Round there I Would like to see you all mity Well if it was so that I Could Well I Was on Picket yesterday and lasnight and it was a very Disagreeable Day and night for it Rained nearley all of they time that we was out We air on Duty nearly Every Day Either to Work on the Brest Works or to Chop Wood or to go on the picket line and While I was on my Post lasnight a Way Down in Chattanooga valey a way in the (night?) and it was as Dark as pitch I thot of home and thot what hapy I would be When the time Come that I Could be free again and Could Come home once more in place of haven to go out Rain or Shine Dark or light on Picket line that Day will Com in ten more months if I live to see them pass away which I hope and trust to God that I my see that Day and I hope that peace may be made be fore that time ten monts may Role around I would be mity glad to see peace made Well Harrison and will is boath Well Well I am agointo Send a quarter of a Dollar in this letter and I Want you to send me a quarter Worth of postage stamps for they hant any hear to buy So I blieve that I have Rote all that I have got to Right at present What have be Come of Joseph Jackson so I will Close my letter From

Jackson Risley to
William Risley

*******

Chattanooga, Tennessee, December 13th, 1863

Dear Father it is with great pleasure that I Seat my Self to answer your letter whitch I resieved last eavening dated the 3 and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well I am well at present hoping these fiew lines will find you all well Jackson and will is boath well you Stated in your letter that you had got our money I was glad to hear that you got it all right and you Stated that miss Jackson was ded I was Sarrow to hear that and you Sed that they was aheap of Sickness threw there I v/as Sarrow to hear of So mutch Sickness the redgement is in the best of health now what they is of it wee have to picket and a week and work on the breast marks every day but that Just gives us a good relish for our food wee hant had no Snow here this winter it has ben raining now every Since yeasterday morning alittle but not verry hard the news here now is that old burnside has Captured old long Street and all of his force they fired asalute here yeasterday and they Sed that was what it was fired for I got my teeth pluged daybefore yeasterday and payed five dollars for it but I dont believe that it will do any good they was rotener in front my upper teeth I have got two rotten Jaw teeth and as Soon as I git paid again I am going to have them pluged I believe that I hant got mutch to rite this time So I will Close from

Harrison Risley to
William Risley

*******

Chattanooga, Tennessee, February 14th, 1864

Dear ouncle i take my pen in to in forme you that i am Well at this pesant time ana i truley hope When these feW liens Corns to hand tha ma fiende you all Well all so i hav no nuse to rite to you onley the armey is moven in frunt all so i am detaled to drive teeme at this presant time and i am very Well sadsfide With the teemes that i am driven i am driven 6 mules noW We ar hall en saW logs and bridg timbers to make a bridg a crose the tensee river i expect it Will take in tell nexte June to git dunn hallen the timber all so i hope i recken you thought strange of me not in listen With the boys When tha inlisted i thought 3 year Was long a nuff for me We ar in Canp one milde on thise side of the river the Wamon is as thick as hops all thrue the Woods hear tha hav got little shantys bilte tha sa tha ar coming north i think tha has bin tWo meney of them gone north all redy tha no We Will fight four our country and tha Will git the benefite as Well as We heare Where We ar tha Came I ana 10 mi Ides to git rashens you sed you had a fine boy at your hons ana you never sed What his name Was the 58 reagment ahas got heare ana tha ar goen in the

NOTE: The rest of the letter has been lost.

*******

Post Train Chattanooga, Tenn., June 4th, 1864

Dear Uncle I set Down this morning to write you a few lines in answer to your kind faior of rather an old Date that Come to hand a few Day a go I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was in good helth ( ) is not as good as it migt be But Better then it has Been for some time Past I hope this may find you and family well in reguard to the election I Cant Say for I have a Poor Chance to learn

Dear uncle I have some Bad news to write to you our regt has Been in another fight and Jackson was killed (?????) and severel of our Co wounded But Harison Came threw safe and unhurt ( )You wanted to now how they was getting a long with this Bridge it sloly it will be a month or two before it will Be Done our army is now in four miles of atlanta there was a reble Deserter Come Back from there and said that he guessed that would Be the last fight the weather is rather wet here now I want you to write to me about how wheat Crops is there I receive them stamps ( ) there are some regts gone home they are going as fast as ther time is out they Just give them time to get Back to their own state Before there time is out ( )
I will now Close hoping to hear from you soon I remain your Nephew

Wm. Done
To Wm. Risley

*******

Camped in the Riffle Pits, Georgia July the 14th, 1864

Dear Father It is once more that I seat my Self to answer your letter ( ) Come to Hand ( ) it found me ( ) well only and to Day I Dont feel quite so well as I Did yesterday I Hope these fiew lines may find you all in the best of Health I was Glad to Hear from you and to hear that you was all Well I Would like to ( ) all mity Well if it was so I Could What Did you Send that letter back for that I Rote the . 15 . of last month I coudent see what it was for Well We are in two miles of the River by the name of Chathoocher and the Rebels is just on the other side of the River and our men on this but on the left and Right We Have got men over the Rive that Is the ( ) Pirty serten that We ( ) a Crost on our left they are a Canonaden in frunt a Crost the River at them I Can see the smoke of the Canon from Hear and I Can hear the Report of it I Can see som of the Rebels Woarks that they have ( ) they Crosed the River ( ) are in site of attalanta I went Down to the Rebels woorks last Sunday they left them a Saturday night and I went Down a Sunday and looked at them they is no men in the Woorld that Could a Charged them they was that they had them made they was made Rite on a steepe bloof a long the Railroad and had sap!ins Choped Down and trimed up and ( ) limbs from three to ( ) feet long and had them layed out in frunt of there woorks to Keep us from Chargen them well I blieve that is a bout all of the newse that I have got to Wright at the Present so I will Close my fiew lines hoping to hear from you soon I Still Remain your son untell Death

Jackson Risley
William Risley

Pirty smart Canonading in frunt Dov/n on the River that is from one battery I Dont think that the Rebels has Replyed ary time to Day With ther ther Gun that is with there Cannon but they is a Right smart muskerty a Shooting with Skirm( ) they shoot a Crost at one and a nother here in frunt of us

Jackson
Risley

they Rebels Just Replied to our guns I Can see the smoke of ther gun from here

Friday July, 15: lay in Camp Som Skirmisher) and Canonading
Saturday July, 16: lay in Camp Canonading and Skirmishen in frunt
Sunday July 17: marcnen orders marched at 8 o. Clock A:m: crosed the River at too o Clock P.m: moved on about a mile South of the River Shirmishen and Canonading of en on all Day
Monday July 18: marched at 7. o clock A.m: Skirmishen in frunt all Day at ( ) Dedant for the Skirmish line
Tuesday July 19: Still on the Skirmish Skirmishen Still this mornin hevy fighing on the left and Right Boath
Wednesday July 20: advanced the lines and they Charged on our woorks hevy fiting in the after noon
Thursday July: 21: lay still all Day hevy Skirmishen all Day
Friday July 22: advanced our lines and our Regt. got Drove Back hevy fiting on the left all Day
Saturday July, 23: Canonading and skirmishen all Day some Chargen in our frunt
Sunday July 24: hevy Canonading and Skirmishen Boath
Monday July, 25: lay in the second line all Day Canonading Pirty much all Day Skirmishen too
Tuesday July, 26: lay in the Same place that we did the /25/ hevy Skirmishen and Canonading Boath also
Wednesday July, 27: the Regt. lay in the frunt of woorks I lay on the Skirmish line all Day hevy fiting on the left and hevy Shirmishen all along the lines
Thursday July, 28: in the frunt lines hevy fiting all along the lines
Friday July, 29: we lay in the frunt lines Shirmishen all along the lines
Saturday July 30: on the frunt line Co: worked on the Skirmish line all Day hevy Shirmishen and Canonading Boath in the senter
Sunday July, 31: lay on the frunt line hevy skirmishen all Day That finisheses July.

MISSING PAGES??

Sunday August, 21: lay on the frunt line of the Second Brigade with in one hundred and fifty yards of the Rebels main works Skirmishen and Canonading
Monday August 22: one the frunt line Canonading and skirmishen Building woorks out in advance of these
Tuesday August, 23: still on they frunt line hevy canonading and skirmishen ( ) Wednesday August 24: still on the frunt lines hevy Canonading and skirmishen Relieved at 6: P.M.
Thursday August the 25 on the second line some Canonading and skirmishen
Friday August 26: on the second line hevy Canonading and som skirmishen and moved at 8: Pm: moved to the Rite
Saturday August 27: Detailed woork at twelve the orders Come to git Redy move at three P.m: Counter manded some Canonading and Skirmishen
Sunday August 28: moved at six o clock A.m: moved to the Right to the Rail Road Some Skirmishen and Canonading
Monday August 29: Detail for picket Detail to go out to tair up the RailRoad track our Division of the 14 Corps, was the troops that Don it som Skirmishen
Tuesday August 30: marched at 6: A.m moved to the Right Som Skirmishen
Wednesday August, 31: moved at five A.m: Canonading and Skirmishen in the after noon hevy fiting we moved back to the place where we Stade the nite be fore
Thursday Sept 1: marched 8. A.m. too miles hevy fiten throgh the Day and som Prisoners taking
Friday Sept. 2: moved at 2: P.M: to Jonesborrow Ga: Six miles som fiting Duern the Day Saturday Sept. 3: we lay near Jonesborow hevy fiten in frunt
Sunday Sept. 4: lay neer Jonesborrow fiting in frunt pirty ( ) all Day
Monday Sept. 5: lay near Jonesborow Ga: Canonading and Skirmishen all Day
Tuesday Sept. 6: fell Back two miles Skirmishen and Canonading
Wednesday Sept. 7: we back Just be on Ruff and Redy alittle Skirmishen in morning Thursday Sept. 8: we marched with in too miles of atlanta went in to Campe
Friday Sept. 9: fix up tents
Saturday Sept. 10: Detail to Poliece the Camp all quite so that Ends the Campaign I
Blieve

Jackson Risley to
William Risley

*******

Camp in the Front line of Works about Six miles West of Atlanta Georgia, August 14th, 1864

Dear Father It once more that I Seat my Self to Drop you a fiew lines to let you know that I am well hoping these fiew lines may find you all in the best of health I Re eived a letter from you the same Day that I Rote the other letter to you or they was two one Rote Augt. 4 the other one was Augt. 5. and I was Glad to hear from you and to here that you was well I would like to See you all mity well if I Could' well we are Clost to the Joney Rebs yit I was on the Skirmish line yesterday and we advance our lines and they was some Several Come in to our lines and give theme selves up well you wanted to no if they was amaking a fuss here a bout the Election they Dont have much to say about it only Some times they git up a Rite smart Raze a bout it Some of them is a fixten them Selves up that they are agointo git to Come home to voat but I Cant see it I think that old Abe. will git it a gain if he Runes Well as I Just Rote you aletter the other Day I will Close this for the Present fore I hant much to Rite this morning soil! quit for the Present from

Jackson Risley
To William Risley

Wright soon
When this you see Remember me

*******

Camp Near Capefear River, N.C., April 21st, 1865

Dear Father Its once more I Seat my self to drop you afew lines to let you know that I am Well at this time I hope these few lines may find you in good health I Recived two letters from you Day before yesterday and I Was glad to heare from you and to heare that you was Well I would like to see you all the best in the Wourld but I Cant at the Present I think in a few more Monts that We Can all Come home If nothing More than Coming hapens than I think I think that if they Will try Right heard I think that they Can make piece We had aroder Read to us yesterday that all suspensen Was stoped from the Patomac to the Riogrand I think that Some of our Generals and som of the Rebels Generals is at Raleigh a trying to see What they Can Do towards Making piece I hope that they Will Make at all Right and have no more fittinging for I am tirrede of it thes is the 22 of this month all is quite yit this morning as far as I know Well I hant Much to Riight this Morning so I Will quitee oyes William Done William myers is Mustered is our Second Lieutenant Alford Webber is our ordley Sergent Pirty tolerble strick he is to William Farras is a comanding Co. D. Mires A Comanding Co. C. Capt. Palmer Comanding C. G. as usul they hant ben no Promotion Since the Rierntes (?) Came yit only Myers Was Musterd for alieutenant Well that is all I blieve at the present So I will Close for the present from

Jackson Risley To
William Risley

END OF LETTERS

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