As I am at leisure today I will write you a few lines. We are now encamped two miles from Murfreesboro on the Nashville road. We expect to have to go to McMinnville in a few days. We wee out there a short time since. It is quite a pleasant place, and if they get the cars to running there as they expect to, I would not mind going there. I would like to be on the railroad where we can get our mail regularly. The inhabitants treated us very kindly when we were there. They are very different from what they are here at Nashville. There a good many took the oath. We hear the secesh are using some of them rather rough for it too. We were the first Union troops that had been there and there have been none there since. Before we left, a large liberty pole was raised with the Stars and Stripes nailed to it. Gen. Dumont, Col. Campbell, and our Chaplain then made speeches to the soldiers and inhabitants after which we gave three cheers for the old flag and started for Murfreesboro. I do not know whether it has been cut down since we left or not. I think very likely it has though. If it has it will soon be floating over the place never again to be hauled down, that while the bloodless Third remain there, unless they get scooped out and I do not think there is any danger of our ever getting into a fight. Gov. wished to know if this regiment was as brave as they are well-disciplined. As far as that is concerned I think as a general thing one regiment is as brave as another, every regiment is anxious to distinguish itself and all are anxious to have a fight. The more confidence the men have in their officers and the better disciplined they are, the better they will fight.
We are having a great times here now picking blackberries and making sauce of them. They are very thick. The whole regiment have all they can eat. Apples are fast getting ripe and peaches will be in a short time. There is going to be a good deal of fruit in the South this year. You wished me to send you a flower as a treasure from the 'Rebel Land'. As it is too late in the season for flowers I will send you a confederate script, the kind of currency now in circulation through the South. They do not refuse to take it even here.
What do you think about the war being near its close? I think it is a greatway from it now. I would like to get out of in eighteen months from the time I enlisted. That would be 'good enough for me.' Dinner is ready and I must close. Excuse this poorly written letter.
I remain your friend,
H.N.G.
(The mention of the trip to McMinnville and the location of Murfreesboro and the dates, correspond to the account of the Third Minnesota Regiment as given in the Minnesota records.)
