J. L. Anderson letter, 1862 October 23

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Transcription of letter:

Knoxville, Oct. 23rd 1862

Dear Sister Maggie

I received your interesting letter day before yesterday and would have answered it yesterday but I was to mad. The cause of my anger was that our horses were perishing for want of something to eat when there was plenty to be had if we had of had an officer that had of known his bisness. They had nothing to eat for two days. (-) You will see that I am in Knoxville again. We left this place on the 11th of this month to go to Kty. We started soon in the morning in the rain it rained on us two days we were on the road 11 days 6 going and 5 coming we went one route and came and came back another we went by way of Clinton and Jacks. B(-). We came by way of Tazewell and Maynardsville a much better route than the one we went, I have been over a goodial of the world but the last trip has been the roughest that I ever saw. I will bet that part of the world against all the rest for poor country limestone rocks and ugly gals. The fact of the bisness is that I have not seen a pretty girl since I left Knoxville and they are very scarce hear.

When Mil Gen Braggs army about 4 miles this side of the gap that is we wee met his advance train of wagons and told us that the half army was coming on behind after the Genral had consulted some of the officers that were there he concluded to trun back on his own look, however, he went through the gap himself and escorts. It was a grand sight indeed it came up to my expectation in grand style but not in length. I supposed it was a long narrow gap 25 or 30 miles across in sed of that it is not more than 5 miles across and not more than one mile across the fortifications it is the strongest place I ever saw the yankeys had no time to play when they was thare for thay have cut down every tree and bush for a mile in every direction. I can't describe the place satisfactorily for it is very grand you can just take all the romance that you can grasp in your mind into consideration with high cliffs and inaccisable presapices and splendid fortification and a narrow pasway that is just wide enough for a wagon to pass with a splendid spring on the top of the mountain and you will have the Cumberland Gap. I am very well and John Smith is well. I am expecting my Reg in Knoxville in a day or two. I will jump for joy when that event takes place for I never was so anxious to see anything as I am to see my Ca. Till Father not to sell my horse until he gets fat perhaps I will have a chance to send for him. Take good care of my mare and colts for a horse is worth more than a negrow.

Your loving Brother, J. L. Anderson