Camp Near Morristown Tenn.
November 21 1864

Mrs. Martha M. McKnight

My Dear
I now write to you a few lines which leaves me in good health at the present. I have nothing good to write you. We have hard times here. We have been doing very hard duty for the last two or three weeks. Last Saturday we had a little fight with some Yankee cavalry. It was a very hot time for about ten or fifteen minutes. We gave them a very good flogging, and run them all back to Strawberry Plains about 25 or 30 miles. We lost out of our Brigade about 30 men killed and wounded. Our regiment had one man wounded his right arm was broken the Dr. cut it off. It was Ed McLendol of Co. I. We followed them up next day and General Anderson fought them next day a little and whipped them again and captured 600 prisoners and ran them all off.

I received a letter from you a  few days since bearing date  Nov. 17th which was the first one I  have had from you since I left home and you don't know how glad I was to hear from you I hope I will get another the next mail. We have plenty to eat now but I can't tell how long it will last for we have to get our rations in the country. We have to go down in North Carolina to get them, a distance of from one to two hundred miles and haul them on wagons and the teams are all worn out and the trail so bad that it is almost impossible to travel. We have drawed our clothing and shoes but not half enough. There are more than half of our regiment that are now barefooted and as ragged as ever you saw a negro but the wagons are gone to Bristol now to bring our clothing and I hope we will soon have plenty of clothes & shoes, blankets, & I drawed a good blanket the other day. My clothes & shoes are all good yet but they will soon begin to give out. Frank is now barefooted and many others some of the Capt. are in the same condition. We heard that Greer Sorrells and those that was with him are all at home and we was all glad to hear of it for we was afraid the Yanks had them.

We drawed some money yesterday only two months pay twenty two dollars. I have thirty five dollars on hand now I don't know when we will draw any more.  I will keep it to buy such things as I knead for I know you have plenty to eat and I have not and sometimes I can get something to eat with it but there are a great many citizens here that will not have our money , then we kill their hogs and geese, chickens and you may guess at the balance of their treatment. I don't think Frank will get to come home for old Longstreet will not let him go because there are not three officers present for duty in the co. anymore. Tell Rebecca that I don't know where John is I suppose he is at Hospital somewhere. Write to me often and direct to Morristown Tennessee and I will get some of them. The health of the Regt. is very good at this time our Regt. will not number more than one hundred and fifty men.

I will close for the present for I have no time to write more.

Oh give  Eldorah a kiss for me and tell Lou howdy.

Farewell
I Remain Your Affectionate Husband

Mrs. M. M. McKnight                                    CPC McKnight