Letters to Home from
To: Mr. J. W. T. Lee Cornersville, Giles Co. Tenn.
Dear Pa, We are situated at present upon the banks of Green river, about a mile from Boling Green. There are I suppose about 7 thousand of us here. We took some eight of Uncle Abe's not worthy of Capitol letters, Engines & carts. General Buchner, who has charge of us, had a bridge burnt down about 7 miles this side of Louisville to prevent Lincoln troops, from occupying Muldro's hill or heights, a natural fortyfication of itself, which is about 25 miles this side of Louisville. It is rumored that we will occupy this side of Louisville. It is rumored that we will occupy those heights.
Our baggage (which came up last night) has not been taken off yet; I would suppose that we are not permanently settled. I would not be surprised if we got into a fight before three days. I had forgotten to State that we took a cannon and some 8 stand of arms. I believe that is almost all of the news. I wrote a letter to Mother day before yesterday. The reason, that I write so early is that I want you to send me Porter. I am want you to send me him the first opportunity without fail. Send him by Calvin Orr if he comes before James Ralston. If Jimmie comes first, send Porter by him. I am tired of being dependant upon others. Porter might as well die ought here as any where else. Get him a coat, thick course, pair of boots and have a row of tacks put around the soles of them. Two yarn pair of draws, two yarn shirts and Druey leggins will give him the remainder of his cloths, also send him two blankets. Be certain & send him without fail for I would not miss having him out here for five hundred dollars. Recollect by Calvin Orr, or James Ralston, who ever comes first.
E. C. L. Bridges
P.S. If Calvin & Jimmie leave before you get this, send him by some person else & let them pay his way out. I will refund the money when they get here.
To: Mrs. Mary F. Lee Cornersville Giles Co. Tenn.
Dear Mother, doubtly you have expected a letter from me eree this; but having nothing of importance to write, except thie condition of my health knowing that you could learn of it from others sources, at any time I have delayed writing to the present time. We are still here in old Kentuck fairing sumptouusly, highly elated with the expection of haveing a struggle with the Yankee before many days. It is reported that they (Yankee) have crossed Green River, I know not whether is so. One thing certain though, that if they have not crossed, they intend to very soon; for they have some 600 ment repairing the bridge which was blown up across Green River. I think from the best information that I can gather, that they intend to attack us Simultaneously at Columbus (Note: Columbia), this place and on the Potomac. They intend to make a desperate struggle to subdue us; But I think their efforts will prove futal. Col. Orr wrote a letter to Calvin the other day stating that Uncles Charles had to go with the Militia. I was sorry to hear it; but I do not think that they will stay any longer than to await the diversions of the above mentioned battles; if we are victorious, they will return home. I suppose you heard that I handed in my resignation. Well, the thing has all been fixed, the restrictions have been drawn from atound Lts., alls right once more. How is Goodrum, Tell him he must write to me. I suppose the money which I started home, got there safe. Kiss John Andrew Harlson & the baby. My love to rest of the family and all inquiring friends. Write a soon & give me all of the news times and all. William Orr will hand you this.
So good Night to you
your son
E. C. L. Bridges
P. S. Direct your letters Bowling Green Ky.
Col. Brown's Regd.
ECL Bridges
Dear Mother,
I received your letter which was sent by James Ralston & was glad to learn that you were all well. Now I have learnt something about a Soldiers life, Since I wrote my last letter to the family. The day after we arrived at Bowling Green, Capt. Walker's & Barber's company together with threee hundred other infantry, some calvary & one piece of artillery were detailed to go off on a skirmishing expedition, of five days length under the Command of Col. Helm. We were reinforced after two days searching, by three thousand infantry and five pieces of artillery, having heard that the enemy were too strong for our small force; our trip turned out to be one of fifteen days length in the place of five. We were not in a battle while out; but had one or two skirmishes, in which some nine of our men (all calvary) were killed. We took some fifteen prisoners, among whom I understand was Col. Buckner, a cousin of Gen. Buckner. We also took about one hundred stands of arms, and one piece of artillery, a four Binder, during our march. We tore a lock down at Green River, & threw the gate in the river in order to prevent the enemy from bring arms and troops up the river. It was worth as much to us as the army, that it would require to guard the lock. We marched over a distant of a hundred & fifty miles through Butler, Muhlenberg, Christian counties to the State line. Some days we marched twenty four miles. The day before we got to Hopkinsville, we marched ten miles without rest. The trip proved beneficial to me. I gained seven pounds & a half during the fifteen days that we were out...and now enjoy better health than I ever did. Lieut Jones has just come in, & reports that Breckinridge is down in town, that he will make a southern rights speech this evening, he also states that we have taken a Lieut. Col. prisoner, did not learn his name. He was taken at Green River. I think old Kentuck will soon be all wright. We converted a great many while out, & they are volunteering every day, in Bowling Green. We will though have a hardtime I'm afraid of gaining our independance. Lieut. Jones had a cousin to return from England about four weeks ago and he states that the Synpathies of England are entirely with the North, & if that's the case I'm afraid we are ruined. For if she does not break the blockade, and our only hope is the accomplishment of that, lies in there here. Our cotton will be worth nothing comparatively Speaking. I though am determined to fight as long as I can raise an arm or pull a trigger. We are forifying this town. The forts are upon two hills, which have command over the whole town. The citizens around here have subscribed five hundred days work, which helps us out considerable. Gen. Rosseau has command over some eight or nine thousand of the enemy at Elizabeth town, & is fortyfying that place. I understand that he pulled up stakes to march down upon us; but concluded that it would not do, a very wise conclusion. It is also reported that he has sent word for the women and children to leave Bowling Green. I don't think the report can be relied upon though. Our forces extend up as far as Green River & I would not be at all surprised if that's not the battle ground.
Gen. Buckner desires Capt. Walker to accept of the appointment of Inspector General. I do not know whether he will accept. If he does, he will not give up his Commission as Capt. of his company. Nothing more, only some of family write soon; & direct letter to Camp Bowling Green and what Regt.
Your son
E. C. L. Bridges
PS. Some sickness in company. James Ralston is well & so are C. G. Orr, J. B. Orr & Carson. James Orr was taken prisoner but escaped. I reckon you have heard the circumstances of it ere this time.
E.C.L.B.
NOTE - This letter to Mrs. Mary Lee Cornersville, Giles Co. Tenn.
To: Mrs. F. E. Harwell
Dear Sister,
As Jack Pitts is going home on to morrow, I have concluded to write you a few lines. We are all getting along finely up here in Old Kentuck. Have had no fiting yet, only a little skirmishing, but I expect we will have an opportunity of exhibiting Tennessee valor before very long. We have three days rations cooked, & in our haversack, ready to leave at any monent. And when we leave, it will be to fight, if the enemy do not run from us like they did at Rochester & Hopkinsville as doubtless you have already heard. We have camps from this place, as far as, up to Green River & I understand that a part of Gen. Hardee command numbering about eight thousand are on the other side of Green River & have had some skirmishing with Gen. Rosecrans advance. If they are on the other side, they are in a bad predicament, for the bridge accross Green River was blowed upon yesterday through a mistake. Goodrum, I understand is down at Mitchellsville, about forty miles below us & Capt. Worley has been appointed col. Billie Erskin & Holland are well. Capt. Walker has ben appointed Inspector General, but still holds his Commission as Capt.
I am well at present & am fleshier than, have ever been. Kiss Bettie lewis for me & give my best respects to all of my acquaintances & ladie acquaintances especially.
Nothing more at present. Jack Pitts can give you all the news. Write soon & direct your letter to Camp Bowling Green. Col. Brown Regd. & if I am not here it will be forwarded on to me.
Your Brother,
E. C. L. Bridges
TO: Mrs. M. F. Lee Cornersville, Tenn, (by the politiness of F. B. Neely)
Dear Mother,
After delaying for some time with shame, I drop you a short note in hast. We got to nashville the same night we left Pulaski about nine o'clock in the night and marched out to the fair grounds about 2 miles from town. We was very much fatigued by the walk. Though we had a very nice place to camp if we had been fixed with necessary equipment, I caught a very bad cold from laying out there, but am improving some. We left Nashville Thursday following for Camp Green where we are now stationed. We have a very nice place to camp, good water & wood handy. Two miles from the reart road leading to Bolling Green about fifty miles above nashville & twenty seven from Bolling Green. We have a nice time here. We have a great deal of fun all the boys seem to enjoy themselves finely in high spirits with the hope of forming our regiment in a few days & drilling a few days & having futher fun. We have a rough company here some one or two is not full, which keeping us from orgainizing. I hear from Bud every day or two now, as there is nothing of interest here to write. I will have to close as it is going late & we are all well except Colas. Excuse my short note. will try to do better in a few days.
Your affectionate son
Goodrum Bridges
Direct your letters to Mitchellsville, Tennessee. Sumner Co. Care of C pt. Worley company at convientance & Obblige yours G.L.B.
To: Mrs. F. E. Harwell
Dear Sister,
I expected to have writeen to you before this but have delayed it until now and you will seem neglect for I have not had anything that would interest you. There is nothing still though I have enjoyed as fine or better health since our arrival here, than I ever have before & I am pleased with our position & the citizen around here are very close. They bring us cabbage & potatoes every day. I have become very attached to them. I called on one of them the other day & taken dinner & was very agreeably disappointed by finding some very nice young ladi which was quite a treat with me & spent quite a pleasant evening with them. The longer I stay the better I like this part. It is thought, by some, that we will take up winter quarters at this post. I do not know for myself whether we will or not. I like it very much, if it should be the case that Col. Brown's regiment was with us but that being impossible we are trying every day to prepare ourselves to get to Bolling Green if we can, but I fear we will be defeated in getting with them. The general health of our camp is very good at present I believe, excepting a few cases of measles. We have some 4 or 5 cases in our unit but all doing very well. Porter has had a chance to catch them & you had better be careful about him, as Bud told me to send him there.
I went to Bolling Green Saturday evening last which is about 27 miles above this. I witnessed some of the grandest scenes of my life. I went out on Sunday morning to the review, when I saw 8,000 infantry & 2 companies of artillery maneuvering as if they was in battle. I saw the cannon & maneuver with them as if they was playing upon the enemy. They had Generals Sidney Johnson, Harding and Buckner out on the field to see and manwuver them. The boys proformed elegant. General Sidney Johnson says Col. Brown's Regiment is the best drilled regiment in the Confederate Army or that he ever saw. Col. Brown has got to be one of their best officers, so said, up there. The citizens of Bolling Green taken a bote for Brown's regiment to remain there, if they was to move troop to any other point & if they was going to leave any there.
Brown's regiment has more charrichtor than any other among 40,000 troops. It is & will be a great honor to them and all so, to old Giles. Bud is enjoying as fine or in fact better health than he has ever before. He wrote to Tom as I came down this morning, so I shall not stray further. I will have to close as it is now very nearly mid-night and getting very cold. Write to me as convient, I remain your affectunate Brother,
Goodrum L. Bridges
To: Rev. J. W. T. Lee, Cornersville, Tenn.
Dear Pa,
Doubtless you all think its time you were getting a line from me. If so I can only say to you all ditto. I do not know when I have received a letter from home. If it was not for the neighbors who come up here, I would be as ignorant of what is going on at home, as I am of the proceedings of the hottentots of Africa. You all do not know what a source of pleasure it is to me to get a letter from home. It is true that it is a hard task for me to write a letter; but that does not indicate that I do not like to get them. I heard through Col. Orr that John Andrew was seck. Hope not seriously so.
Doubtless you have heard that the enemy have attacked forts Henry and Donelson. The former is upon the Cumberland and the latter upon the Tennessee River. They are about three miles apart. A telegraphic dispatch came to Gen. Buckner that they had attacked our troops with at least ten thousand men and perhaps more. They attacked them both upon land & water. Later news states that they are (the enemy) still bringing more troops on. The report is afloat here, thet it is reliable. It is true that we have only 2000 in 25 troops at Fort Henry; but we had a brave commander there----------Col. Heiman. Dr. Johns father came up Saturday evening and he states that thirteen hundred of the Camp Weekly & Maury boys left Nashville that evening on boats, for Fort Henry.
I think perhaps something is going on, and in the direction of Glasco, from what I can see. Glasco is forty five miles southeast from this place and about the same distance from Gallatin. From what I can learn of the movements of the enemy, I think it's their intention to flank us upon the right & left, and cut off our supplies, in that manner draw us out of this place. The least of my thoughts are of having a battle at this place. We are too well fortyfied..I could write more, but doubtless you have a better knowledge of what is going on that I have.
Our Regt. is enjoying excellent health. col. Cook's though is considerabley under the weather. One thing I had almost forgotten and that's in regard to the Johns horse and the horse which Jim Hammonds has. I would be glad if you could sell them. Now is a very suitable time as the people are commenced plowing soon and will want to plow stock and also a plenty of money in the country. Sell them for the cash if you can't do the best you can. You can keep the money until I call upon you for it. I would also be glad if my Flaxie (he deserves a Capt.) could be fat when I come home, as I would want to go with some of the gals. Sell those other horses as there is so great a demand as there ever will be for them. I am well and so are James Ralston, Wesly Clark, Sammie Harwell & Billie. Give my love to Coleman & family, also to Mother and Balance accept a part yourself. I like for you all to write. Nothing more.
E. C. L. Bridges
