Letter from Linus Patrick to John B. Patrick

Franklin, Tennessee
April 12th, 1863

Dear Father

I sit me down this evening to send you a few lines thinking perhaps you may be anxious to hear how Co "K" 121st O.V.I. Is coming on- Well in the first place we had a little fight here day before yesterday - About 12 o'clock a few thousand Rebel Cavalry thought they would dash into Franklin & feel for us - The Old 4Oth O.V.I. was on picket over the River 800 strong - (one Regiment goes over the River on picket each day besides the cavalry out posts) The 40th has been in the service over a year & was never in a fight and the boys were spoiling to get at the "Grey Backs" - The Rebel Cavalry charged on the pickets who fell back on the reserve in good order, keeping up a brisk fire all the time - The Rebels charged on the Regiment several times but the Buckeyes stood their ground, driving them back every time

Some of the Rebels run our sick soldiers from the hospital to the River & were shot by the guards at the pontoon bridge within one hundred yards of where the bridge crosses over into our camp

Our 32 pound siege guns opened on them about 1 1/2 [1:30] PM shelling the woods for miles & killing any quantity of "Grey Backs"- We marched out yesterday morning at five o'clock about 3 1/2 miles out the Murfreesburo Pike to relieve the 125th and 113th O.V.I. who stood there the night before - when I said we marched out I should have said the 98th & 121st O.V.I.

We remained there until 3 P.m. & seeing no Rebs we returned to camp The Rebel caught thunder day before yesterday & if they undertake to take this place I think they will have a nice time - Lieut Col Banning of the 125th O.V.I. has been assigned to the command of our Reg. & a good officer he is too - he has been a Capt in the 4th O.V.I. ever since thc war broke out - he "commanded the 87th O.V.I. in the three months service last summer- I understand John Heagi drove in the Harris pickets the day of the election when a brisk engagement ensued

Bleage being the best maneuver outflanked Harris on the left and got a raking fire on him which Harris after sustaining a few minutes with heavy loss, broke and fled in confusion, he again rallied to charge on his assailant but his artillery being inferior to that of Bleage he very wisely fell back on Johnny Koutmans Ale Keg - We expect to be paid off tomorrow the paymaster has been over to nag us of twice but we were on picket both days - the 88th were paid off last Wednesday - my respects to all my friends Yours for the Union

Linus

We got lots of good new cloths today

Postscript p.1: Did McCulloch get my letter requesting him to write to west & how my commission made out? Glovers resignation is accepted he took my recommendation to Columbus when he went home- have Mc do this if hes not done it