19 January 1862, Kentucky, War Between the
States
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George P. Faw, 29th Tennessee
Infantry, to Thomas A. Faw, January 5, 1862,
Camp near Mill Spring, Ken. Jan. 5, 1862 Dear Brother I will now address you the first one since I left Knoxville. We started form there on the 24th ult about 12 o’clock and marched without resting ten days arriving at this point on the second of this inst. Nothing occurred during our March to seriously impede our progress. Lieut. Martin was detailed to return from our first encampment to bring up those of my Company were left behind sick and their nurses as soon as they were able to travel. Lieut. Bowman was taken sick and left at Wartburg a small Dutch town on the Cumberland Mountain near Montgomery in Morgan County. This place is noted for its vineyards and orchards. The inhabitants of the place have all the characteristics of Germany. They seem to be industrious and very equinomical, in fact, too much so to accord with decency (according to our education). They combine together the dwelling and the barn, that is some do. There is however some very nice dwellings among them; they make a large quantity of wine and brandy, which they sell at a very high price. Their wine is very sour; it is make of Catawba Grapes and drinks more like vinegar than anything else. Their brandy is very strong and fiery. They sell their Drink at one dollar per qt. The road that we traveled across Cumberland Mountains is principally level after getting on the Mountain, though there are some streams running across with steep rough hills on each side. There is some very steep hills to come down on this side and they are very rough. Jim Town [Jamestown] is just such a place as you would imagine it to be, cituated on the top of the mountain, with surrounding country covered with black jack, chestnut trees and black pine. The land is generally sandy and very poor. With the exception of the growth upon it, it will correspond about with our landed estate on Bear Creek, N.C. From Fentress County, Tenn. passed into this Wayne County, Kentucky. The part that we came through of this county is a fine fertile section, the land lays well and seems to be well cultivated. We also find the inhabitants generally at home, which was not the case on the mountian in Tenn. We had a fine spell of weather to travel in. It rained but very little while on the way and it was about cold enough to be healthy and march well; but the night we arrived at this place it commenced raining and has rained a good deal, enough in the mountains to raise the river so high as prevent us from ferrying it at this point. We found our forces at this place very busily engaged building cabins for winter quarters. Some regiments have theirs nearly complete, while others were behind them. There is also in process of making strong and formidable breastworks and entrenchments on both sides of the river. Genl Zollicoffer and the most of the force is on the other side of it – that is the north side. Our Regiment and two others are on this side; however we have orders to cross and will do so as soon the wet weather is over. Our forces seem to think that they can hold their position against great odds, - in fact it is said to be one of the strongest natural positions in the Southern Confederacy. It is so cituated that we cannot be cut off from water from neither side and there is but two or three points near that is higher than the ground that we occupy and our cannon commands them so that the enemy cannot occupy them. The river at this point makes a large bend to the south and our forces have it fortified entirely across on the north side so that 5 or 6 Regiments can defend the entire land on that side. The distance from the breastworks to point in the bend of the River is about one mile, and on this side our breastworks extend around the point of the bend leaving a narrow strip of land between it and the river, including some very fine springs, a grist mill and sawmill which is entirely protected by the hill on this side. The health of the Brigade is tolerable good. The part of my company that is with is all about, some are complaining, we have three cases of measles, none of them serious. Our Regiment is very much reduced by sickness. We have about 5 hundred men in camps and 300 at home. I will state what information I have relative to the enemy. Jamestown 28 miles west of us and six mile north of the River is said to be occupied by two regiments of infantry & two battalions of Cavalry. They seem to be watching the river. At Summerset about 12 miles northeast of us there is said to be about 15000 of the Enemy who are preparing winter quarters about 3 miles beyond that place and if that be the case they have not much notion of attacking us soon. I have understood – I do not know the correctness of the report – that our forces are marching form Bowling Green, that is, advancing. I hope it is so and that they will come up in this direction so as to enable us to clear the river of the Lincolnites below so that we can get our supplies from Nashville or below here. If that is not done we remain here this winter we will have a hard time of it I fear. However we can waggon from Gainsboro, the Co seat of Jackson Co on the River a distance of 75 or 80 miles, but when the roads get bad it will be a slow process to provide for a brigade. My health has been very good so far. I hope it may continue so. Dear Brother you can read this letter and send it down home to my family. I want you all to write me as often as you can conveniently. I will write home soon. Give Love & Respects to all who may inquire after me and accept a large portion to yourself and family. Your affectionate Brother, Geo. P. Faw
Copy provided courtesy Kevin Mason.
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