Pittsburgh Landing

29 April [1862]

Dear brother-in-law and sister,

Because I now have the opportunity I write to you how it goes with me in this soldier life. We marched 14 days through the state of Tennessee one moment up hill the next downhill, and because we had to sleep in the open with still little to eat or drink, we soldiers were soon broken down. And where we arrived on 6 April at the Tennessee River we heard a frightening thunder of cannons that boomed one after the other all day Sunday, and we immediately received orders to march forward and about 9 o’clock at night arrived on the battlefield, now we had to stand the whole night in the rain until 4 o’clock in the morning. Then we marched toward the enemy then a [illegible word] battle occurred. We had to stand in the fire from 4 in the morning until 5 in the evening when the retreated. The next day I inspected the battlefield and buried the dead, which appeared dreadful and wretched, some without heads and others without limbs.

The number of dead is supposed to amount to 25,000. Dear brother in law and sister I send to you 20 dollars with our Settler as soon as he comes to Louisville. So you must look good in the newspaper to see your name Wilhelm Schulte. We come into another battle soon. Write me again on account of the money. My address is Josph Maas, 6th Ky Regiment. G Company. Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.

Farewell until we see each other again.

[Pvt. Joseph Maas]

Pittsburg, Tennerssee

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Letter provided by Elizabeth Boone, translated by Joseph R. Reinhart

Pvt. Joseph Maas was killed on December 31, 1862 at the battle of Stones River and is buried by the Hazen Brigade Monument with many of his fallen comrades.