Union Soldier Was Pretty Sick Of War In
1864.
T.S.
HARVEY in writing to his aunt, the grandmother of Hobart HAIR, of Maryville, was rather
sick of the Civil War in 1864, "but I don't mind," he writes, "just so we
whip the Rebels and have peace once more."
In
tearing down the HAIR homestead near Maryville, Mr. HAIR found the letter, which had been
written by HARVEY the 26th day of January, 1864, at a camp about five miles
above Knoxville. The letter is penned on
stationery headed "The War For the Union," as follows:
"Dear
Aunt: I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines and let you know that I am well. I hope these few badly written lines will find you
all enjoying the same blessings.
I
have nothing of interest to write to you. I
have been in the army two years. If I could
see you and grandmother, I could tell you of some of the hardships of a soldier's life. I have been a great ways from home since I have
been in the army. I have seen a great deal of
the world and had some pretty hard times, but that I do not mind; just so we whip the
Rebels so we can have peace one more time.
I
have been in the service two years and have had little sickness. I f God lets me live twelve months more I think I
will be a citizen again for a while. We have
been all over Kentucky, Ohio, Middle Tennessee and Georgia before we came into East
Tennessee. We have now taken up winter
quarters about five miles above Knoxville. We
have a nice camp here.
I
came past home as we marched up from Chattanooga for the first time since belonging to the
service. I found them all well. Joshua belongs to the First Tennessee and John
belongs to the Third Calvary which is in Nashville.
Tell
Harriett I am coming over as soon as the war is over, which I don't think will be very
long. Write me as soon as you get this
letter. I understand the Rebels had taken
Uncle SELLERS."
T.S.
HARVEY,
Tennessee
Infantry.
Editor's Note: The above article
appeared in the Knoxville Journal a few days ago and we learn that T.S. HARVEY was the
father of Mrs. L.L. THOMAS of South Harriman. He
was also the uncle of H.W. JOHNSON and Jim HARVEY of Harriman and a number of other
relatives reside in Roane County.
From: The Harriman Record,
Thursday, 6 Mar 1930, Vol. 64, No. 26.