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of the battery. The [illegible] of the battery I am in under the command of the Captain marched, with the majority of our brigade, down to Louisville a distance of 2 miles and then marched about 1/2 a mile east on order to get upon a new road, which we took, and marched south 10 miles beyond the city. We arrived here about 11 o'clock am and am encouraged in the midst of our brigade [The?] brigade is under the command of Brigadier General Gruff. in the brigade there are 2 or 3 other batteries, of whom our Cap't has been appointed the Chief which office I am glad to say does not interfere with his contact with us. We had a [illegible] of the Artillery of our brigade on last Wedsnesday, and many Compliments were [hammered?] upon our battery! which I through modesty will refrain from mentioning. The Railroad regiment from Chicago is also in our brigade, which is the regiment Johnson and Fred Phillips are in, whom I saw and shoak hands with this morning for the first time since I left Chicago

   Reports say that the 2nd (Board of Trade that's the one Frank and John Miller are in, are in camp about 2 miles from us farther north toward Louisville. if so  I will likely see them soon. I think we will spend to-morrow (Sabbath) in our present camp.  I hope we will not be obliged to move even on that day.
      You spoke of mother being anxious to know if our cook came with us.  He did not because we would have had to pay about $12 for his passage, which the Capt considered to much and advised us not to bring him.  We have in his place a Contraband.  Jack a boy about 17 yrs old who ran away from his master, and came into our camp about a week ago.   The boys have splendid spirit with him.  Sarah we have splendid fun down here, my Capt don't go in for guys doing [secesh?] Chicken houses and if we don't have a good time it is as caution Fruit is as cheap down here as dirt, all you have to do is to help yourselves.   We Cannot buy anything from the inhabitants in the shape of bread, for we don't know but what it may be [illegible  with poison which might probably lay heavy upon our stomachs.  Some soldiers  (about 8 or 9) of the 85th Ill regiment bought some ginger bread