Letter, David W. Humphrey in Nashville, Tennessee to "Julia" , 1862 November 26

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Head Quarters 8th Division, Camp Hamilton, 6 miles South of Nashville, Dec. 17th / 62

My Dear Julia

I received yours of December 1st last night and truly glad to hear from you. I am well at present and sincerely hope those few line will find you enjoying the same great blessing. We left town this day a week ago and came out here. We have a beautiful camp, the weather is cool, but pleasant. We had a very heavy rain day before yesterday. I am almost at a loss to know what to write at the present time but I will endeavor to write a few line of something. Our Regiment was out a foraging yesterday and came very near getting into a fight. Skirmishing occurs almost every day all along our front but does not amount to much. There has been some hard fighting going on at Fredericksburg. All them Butler County Companies I suppose was in it. I saw in the papers that Tyler's Brigade charged the enemy's batteries. Burnside says he has men enough. I had letter about a week ago from John he said he was well that was the first letter I have had from him since we went to war.

General Rosecrans reviewed this Division the other day. He speaks well of the 78th. The New York Tribune says it is the best Regt. in the Western Department. We are still expecting to hear good news from the Army in Virginia, but do not think will take Richmond very soon, but I do believe if can be taken, Burnside will take it. We was bad off for socks for a while, but we can get them now. The Army is well clothed and fed now and is under strict discipline. General Rosecrans is a very strict disciplinarian. You wished they would get up a box for to send to me . Ruth is going to send to me a box and if you have any thing you want to send to me you can send it in her box. I wish I could get a good mess of buckwheat cakes, but I am too far away from the Buckwheat country for that.

Saturday night, by candle light

I was not mistaken about getting a letter from you. I rec'd your kind letter this evening and was glad to hear from you. I was sorry to hear if Liz being so poorly. I knew she was sick but did not know she was so bad. I was also very sorry to hear of so many of acquaintances dying in the service of their Country. I am glad to hear of the soldiers getting married. I think the girls they are getting are sensible. As for John Buck cutting me out I am not much afraid. I know you too well for to think about that. I have not got the box yet that Ruth sent me and I don't know whether I will get it or not, for John Morgan has destroyed the Rail Road between Louisville & Nashville, but I expect it will come by the River you need not be sorry for not sending me any thing in it for Ruth has sent me everything that I need.

I hope by the time this reaches you Lizy will be better. Well Love I am at a loss to know what more to write at present. I was surprised to hear of Joe Campbell being married. His Regt. is here, but I don't think he is here yet. His Regt. is in the same Brigade that the 78th P.V. is. I have no doubt that you would have me if I should lose a limb, but I think you are too good to have a man with only one leg or one arm. But I hope I will get home safe to see happier days and I hope you will have good health to receive me which I trust you will do kindly.

My thoughts by day and dreams by night are of you. Well Love I must close. Write soon, for I live to hear from you. I remain yours until death.

DWH

Address in care of Genl. Negley, Commanding 8th Division, Nashville, Tenn. By directing them this way, I will get the leter here at Head Quarters.

NB Write soon a long letter for I love to hear from you

Excuse all mistakes

Yours Truly, Lover

Letter, David W. Humphrey to "Julia" , 1862 December 17

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Headquarters, Camp Nashville, Nov 26th 1862

My Dear Beloved Julia

It was with pleasure that I received your kind and loving letter of the 19th inst. It found me well as I sincerely hope this will find you. I was very glad to hear from you. I wrote you a letter a few days ago and therefore have not much to write at the present time. The weather still continues to be cold although not very uncomfortably cold. I suppose it is colder here on account of the River being so close to us. I am still at General Negley's Head Quarters. We are going to move out of the Planters Hotel today. We are going into tents. They are going to make an Officers Hospital out of the Hotel. I had heard of the death of Captain McCune before I got your letter. I suppose it would appear strange to you to see them shooting over a grave, but that is common in the Army.

Sabbath could hardly be called a day of rest in the Army. It is generally the day for inspection of arms and various other things. I was surprised to hear of Joe Campbell been taken Prisoner, for I have been enquiring for his Regt. so that I could go and see him, but I guess I won't go now. There was one of our Company died in the Hospital yesterday morning. His name is D.E. Locke. He was a cousin to Liz Sennett's Dave. He had some kind of a fever. That is the way many a poor Soldier loses his life, where if they had kind Mothers and Sisters, they might get well

I am pleased to hear that you and Ruth is such good friends and I am glad she has chose you for her company, and I and glad that she does not associate with Mag Hoge for her company will not benefit any person if I am any judge. It is not my principal to say any thing about the fair sex but I know I can rely on you that you will never say any thing about any thing that I tell you. It is plain to be seen that Sis has gained nothing by associating with her she is no more like the rest of the family than day is like night. I believe the Army here is not moving much, yet I suppose if it does go to move, it will meet with some opposition before it goes far. General Rosecrans is here but General Negley is in Command of this Post. I do not know whether he will be left here to hold this place or not but I believe he will.

For my part, I would like very much if he would, for if he stays, we will have to stay Now then here is the other page and I do not know what to fill it with, but I suppose it will be like the rest, some nonsense. I believe if I was in Daves place and as handy home as he is I would take a French Furlough and go home there was two of ou Company went home last summer without leave and never came back. Well Love I must soon close. If I was with you I could tell you a great many things that I can not think to write. I would like very much to be at home to see you it seem a long time since I seen you but I have sweet Picture to look at, and though we are far apart my heart is ever with you and there it shall ever remain. The more I think about you, the more I love you. Well I must close may our Heavenly Father ever bless you so farewell. Write soon a long letter for I love to hear from you

I remain yours until death

DWH