Letter #6

Head Quarters 1 Mich E & M
Camp at Cartersville Georgia
July 15 – 1864

Dear brother

            I did not suppose when I wrote you last that I should be with the Co so soon, but so it is.  When I left the Hospital at Bridgeport I was not able to walk to the Depot & carry my knapsack but I was discharged from there & had to go if possible.  One of the nurses carried my knapsack for me.  Then I got along well enough until I got to Chatanooga.  There I had to carry my knapsack quite a distance.  As I was going to report to the Provost Marshal I met one of our Corporals & he told me not to report to him – said he was going to the Co the next day & he wovuld get transportation for me, & if I reported to the Provost they would send me to the barracks & I might have to stay there a week before I could get transportation so he took me to the soldiers home to stay over night & called for me in the morning.  We started at little before 9 & reached this place about 9 in the evening.  We passed through some very pleasant country between here & Chatanooga, the best – I think – of any I have seen this side of the Ohio.  The principal crop growing is corn.  I dident see a pach of potatoes, though our boys said they found some on the march, saw a fiew pieces of spring wheat, one hay field 3 or 4 clover pastures, a good deal of the ground is not cultivated & that grows up to weeds, but never any grass, grass does not seem to be a natural product here, as it is in the north.          This place is a very pleasant little village.  I havnt been around yet to see it all, but what I have seen I like the looks of it.  Our Camp is in a merchants front yard.  The yard is very large, & natural trees left standing, nearly enough to shade the whole ground so you see we have a nice place to camp.  About fifty of our men are out building stockades.  Well B write as soon as you get this and let me know what is going on.  I am quite anxious to hear from home again.

            Your brother
                        John K Hough

I don’t think my journey hurt me any, but made my legs stif & sore carrying that knapsack when I was so weak.