Letter from Oscar Allen to his cousin Hetty Brackney

Loudon Bridge Tenn

Oct. 5th, 1863

It is with pleasure that I seat my self this Sabeth morning in my little pup tent to try to answer your kind letter which I received yesterday We have had fogy rainy weather hear for about three or four days and had the rebs to fight at the same time The 45th regt was in the fight the first day the rebs had them surounded and they had to cut there way threw They shot their guns and revolvers empty Then they went into them ruff shod with the buts of thare guns The rebs got about 65 or 70 of them prisners and we took as many or more of them There is agoijng to be a prety hard battle here if the rebs don't run for Burnside is hear I saw him yesturday He is moaving on themWell hetty I saw James and Silas about 3 weeks ago and they was well then I cant find our wheather they are taken prinsers or not I expect that the ball will open tomorrow but they say that the rebs is retreating Well I think that the rebs is about played out any howWell I will tell you how I voted I voted the hole union ticket that or nun but some in our regt. Voted for Vall. There was 169 votes cast for Vall and 496 for Brough and the 45th Regt went all for Brough I don't see how a man can vote for a rebel and fighting them at the same time Well Hetty I have pretty slim living now we only draw about quarter rations I had nothing to eat this morning but a little parched corn and not much of that You said you wished that I was there to eat diner with you Well I wish I could stop over and take dinner with you I am shure it would not spite me a bit Well I must quit now and go and drill Yours with respect

Oscar D Allen

Direct to Knoxville, Tenn Co. I 118th regt. OVI