Abstract:
In this letter dated October 20, 1863, William Washington Knight writes to his wife, Carrol Knight, from a camp near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He describes the isolation of their location, being about twelve miles from the nearest railroad and without access to newspapers. Knight mentions that he is still in command of four men, some of whom are suffering from diarrhea—a condition he also has but to a lesser extent. He comments on the poor quality of their rations, noting that they get more food than he personally wants but that it's not as good as what they would have at home. Knight expresses a desire for his wife to write to him more frequently and asks her to update him on events in their community. He also inquires about specific local matters, such as a rail project and a property sale. Despite the hardships, he encourages his wife to remain optimistic. The letter closes with Knight mentioning that he has enclosed a dollar.
Description:
Knight, William W., Letter to Mary Knight. October 20, 1863. MS/52 William Knight Civil War Letters, Box 1, Folder 3. Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections. 1 pdf, 2 pages, 75.3 MB (78,990,751 bytes). Includes transcript.