January 27th, 1864, Chattanooga, TN

This is another letter with terms that would not be appropriate today.  I do not think he meant anything derogatory and therefore have left it in.


Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jan. 27, 1864

My dear Parents

Your letter of Jan. 11th is now before me, right glad was I again to hear from home after so long a drought of news from America. With the letter also came 18 postage stamps.
You speak of having very cold weather up there in America, well, we have had some pretty sharp cold at this foreign port, much colder than I expected to feel in this latitude: during the last week or ten days however we have been enjoying very fine weather, quite warm, so that a shade is the most comfortable place during greater part of the day.

We have a new Major in 92nd Regt. – Capt. Morrow of Co. C has at last after a long course of wire working obtained the position. Several others have also taken another step up, and even poor little I, have been put up one more round and have been mustered in as 1st Lieut. of Co. I - as there are no other officers in the Co. I shall take command until others are appointed. Will probably soon be ordered back to the Regt. Capt. Johnson, our Div. Provost-Marshall is to leave us for Nashville. I will fill his place during his absence. When he returns I shall do all in my power to rejoin the 92nd.
Squads of Rebs from one to one hundred are almost hourly arriving within our lines at this place, deserters from Johnson’s army; they all represent things as being very adverse to the Southern cause. They hope the “Yanks” will soon march to the Gulf  and plant the Stars and Stripes throughout the entire Southern Confed, they say most of the Ky., Tenn., some Geo. troops are closely guarded to stop desertion and that they had never heard of Lincoln’s  Amnesty – Would not suffer it to be circulated among their troops.

Large numbers of boxes are being sent through by express to the boys, a box would come through safely but I don’t know whether it would be good policy to start one or not – I think we will be on the move soon, probably for Knoxville – can learn nothing definite.

The cars are very regular – three or four long trains arrive daily loaded down with Hard Tack.. A regiment of Negros came in a few evenings since, about one thousand strong- look as though they might make good soldiers. When marching in line their eyes resemble a white chalk mark drawn across a black board. Much love to all

                            Affectionately your son
                                      David Putnam