Letter from Linus Patrick to John B. Patrick

Cowan Station Tenn
Sept 7 1863

My Dear Father

Your Kind favor of Sept 3rd was received this evening and I hasten to send you an answer.

That we have moved from Shelbyville to Fayetteville and from there to this place, you have doubtless heard 'ere this, so that it is unnecessary for me to say anything more upon the subject

Am very much obliged to you for the shirt - hope I may be able to repay you for your Kindness to me in sending so promptly everything I send for.

That Rosecrans is moving on Chattanooga, you have heard 'ere this - The right, left and centre corps of the Army have moved forward some time since and most of them are across the Tennessee River - everything looks favorable to a big fight at Chattanooga and I only hope that I may have a finger in the pie.

Burnside is rushing down through East Tenn on our left flank and will strike simultaneously with Rosecrans - when last heard from, he was near Knoxville. It may take Rosecrans some time to take Chattanooga, but he will take it so sure as the Rebels make a stand there, which they undoubtedly will as the place is well fortified, it being a natural fortification, You need not be uneasy, nor think that Rosecrans might move more rapidly, he is a cautious Genl and moves slowly, but surely - his base of operations is now 150 miles from his base of supplies and his main transportation for subsistance, is the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail Road, which it takes a small Army to guard, for should his communication in that direction be cut off, his Army would indeed be in a precarious situation, and should he be defeated, And that communication cut off he would still be in a worse condition, for he would have to retreat over the Cumberlands Mountains, where ten miles square would not afford enough forage to feed a whippoorwill so it is better that he should be six months in taking the place, than that he should be defeated - If the Rebels stand the siege and their communication can be cut off between Chattanooga and Atlanta, we will then have them in good shape to capture Braggs whole Army, I think by putting our trust in Rosey and keeping our powder dry, that we will come out victorious, for the western Army has never yet suffered a defeat, except at Perryville, and the Rebels lost probably as many in Killed, wounded and prisoners there as we did and left the field to us next morning.

Col Reid came up from Shelbyville this evening and the other three Regts of our Brigade will be here to night and tomorrow morning we will start at six oclock for Bridgeport, on the opposite side of the River from Chattanooga.

I may not have another opportunity of writing again for some days, but will write the first opportunity - would write at more length to night, but have two or three other letters to write and time forbids that I should write at much length - Hope you may have success in electing a Union man for Gov this fall, I have no right at the Ballot box (not being of age) but I have got my good right arm and have also got the muscles and the will and am just as good a man at the cartridge box as any of 'em

Moore's boys, Bit - Rumer Bill Webber, Vance Warnick, Geo Church and in fact all the Rush Creek boys are well and ready for the onset

Well I must close - Give my respects and best wishes to any friends I may have in Rushcreek - tell them all to go forward in the discharge of their duty as becomes an American citizen in a time like this when the nation is struggling for life and liberty - while enjoying your self at home, please think of the boys who are marching over the mountains in Tenn (with sore feet) for the purpose of meeting and vanquishing the Cursed Rebels and thereby aiding to crush this infernal damnable Rebellion and restoring peace to our country - Write soon

As ever your affectionate Son
L Anthony Patrick