5 October 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

He has kept an account of their movements and battles. He summarizes the hardships he has endured so far.

GLC02739.075

7 October 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

The mail has stopped. The Confederates are only a mile away and they can see them through a telescope. They have not attacked since 20 September, the Battle of Chickamauga. He describes Lookout Mountain.

GLC02739.076

12 October 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

They are so close to the Confederates that they can "talk to them" but neither side is allowed to shoot. Three companies of Confederates gave themselves up and more do every day.

GLC02739.077

15 October 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

He encourages her to go live with Brother Millis and to read often. If he had known what soldiering would be like, he wouldn't have thought any man could stand it.

GLC02739.078

21 October 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

He expects the railroad to be opened all the way soon. They moved from Johnston's division to Sheridan's and from the 20th army corps to the 4th. He will send Rosecrans' congratulatory General Orders No. 227 in his next letter.

GLC02739.079

21 October 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

His regiment is still under Colonel Buckner. They began with 965 men of which 584 remain, 130 of which are still in the regiment. He expects the regiments to be consolidated as they are too small to hold their position alone. His regiment is pleased that Vallandigham lost in Ohio even without the soldiers' votes and with the new governor of Pennsylvania.

GLC02739.080

28 October 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

General Hooker is fighting the Confederates on the right wing. She should make him two shirts and send them and a needle and pins if possible. He encloses General Rosencrans' congratulatory Orders No. 227.

GLC02739.081

2 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

Severely limited rations and for six weeks and "roten hard bread with worms in it." With enclosed excerpts from The Christian Psalmist.

GLC02739.082

5 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

He is glad she and the children are staying with Brother Millis. Most of the men left to reinforce the right wing, which has been engaged in heavy fighting. They must stretch one meal over two days but are in good spirits.

GLC02739.083

10 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

"It is nothing to a soldier to here of the death of a friend or comrade for he has enough of such…that he cannot mourn for the dead." He describes the Battle of Chickamauga: "For two long days we fought the brave men of longstreets corps from Richmond they having two to our one…many were to be he[a]rd crying for help as we would have to walk over them and turn our ears to their cries." He wants to send her his diary of the past year and is keeping one for this year as well.

GLC02739.084

14 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

The Confederates had an internal battle on October 28: "One brigad[e] of them was determined to quit them and ground arms and come to our lines and they was silenced by their trusty troops which terminated in three hours fight killing eight hundred men." He saw two men shot to death for desertion yesterday.

GLC02739.086

20 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

The Confederates have been fighting internally since the Battle of Chickamauga; "I believe they will disband completely." Cornelius Hanvy has recovered. He requests cotton shirts to keep away the army lice. She may exchange the money he sends for silver but "must not be afraid of the greenbacks for they are as good as the gold."

GLC02739.087

26 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter

Title: to Nancy E. Jones [incomplete]

They attacked two days ago and their right wing took Lookout Mountain while the left wing held its position. Yesterday the left wing drove the Confederates from Missionary Ridge, reaching Chickamauga creek this morning. They could not push them further as all the pontoons and bridges were destroyed.

GLC02739.088

26 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones [incomplete]

From her letter he believes that the Copperheads there "must be equally as Mean as those about Paris in Edger County."

GLC02739.089

28 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

His corps captured 30 cannon and 3,000 prisoners in the battle for Missionary Ridge. His division returned to Chattanooga and is headed now for Knoxville. Burnside has been successful.

GLC02739.090

12 December 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

They are running a grist mill and shipping meal and flour to Knoxville. The rest of the regiment is at Knoxville with the 22nd Illinois. Burnside drove the Confederates "from in front of him with heavy los[s] on the part of the rebles." Longstreet is supposed to be nearby." The townspeople are all Union supporters.

GLC02739.091

29 November 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

The mail has not been running since they left Chattanooga.

GLC02739.092

5 January 1864

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

His regiment is running a mill and sending flour up to London. The army is weaker because of veterans going home but if the Confederates don't attack for three months "our armey will be strong enough to wipe them out." He'd hoped to come home as a recruiting officer but was unable to. Written at Camp Sweetwater.

GLC02739.094

January 14, 1864

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

He just received the needle and pins he asked for and is very grateful. He expects to lose most of his teeth while he is in the army. He, Colonel Buckner, and another man formed a religious group and made resolutions on New Year's Day.

GLC02739.095

January 19, 1864

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

They fought at Dandridge and then crossed the French Broad River. After struggling to cross a partially frozen stream, they were ordered to cross back again. He advises her on how to manage their farm.

GLC02739.096

January 26, 1864

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

Were he home, he would teach Phebe Jane himself instead of sending her to school. There was another battle near Chattanooga.

GLC02739.097

February 24, 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

There was a very difficult battle but his regiment killed more Confederates than any other. If those she sells crops to will not "take Uncle Sam's money at ful face let them go without it for I don't want to serve in their place and then them not take such money as I get."

GLC02739.038

February 25, 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

He does not regret joining the army "for it has bin a blessing to me, and I think it wil work out for good to us all in the long run." He will never desert but does not blame anyone for deserting as "our men is meaner than the rebbels."

GLC02739.039

8 March 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

He will not pretend to be sick just to get a discharge like many others. He was discouraged after Stones River but is in good spirits again. The fort "is going to be the greatest in the United States when it is done."

GLC02739.040

12 March 1863

Jones, Joseph, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy E. Jones

They have marching orders but he hopes they will stay. There are so many dead Confederates in the river that "our men crossed on them dry shod."

GLC02739.041