I take my pen to drop you a few lines to inform you that I am well at this time and I hope that these few words on my lines may find you in the enjoyment of the blessing of a kind preserved I am in the best of spirits now that we I have been in ?? Since I left home the last time and all the boys ar in good helth and fell determined to make a good Show if they get a chance to do so I would like to be out in th front if they woud not put us throug to hard but I know that they will put us throug from the ?? we left Louisville on the 7th and came her by rail and got her on the 9th and had the pleasure of meeting our friend daniel Skinner from Dry Run and you may think that we was not a little Surprised to meet him So far from home and all the boys was glad to her from the valley and all the rest of the friend in cold Pennsylvania We are at this time encamped 2 miles from this place and expect to go to Murfresboroug in a few days as the troops ar all gon up and I think that there is a battle in contemplation and you may look for stirring news from the department of the Cumberland as the Commanding General is in earnest about the matter an if the war will end it must come from the rest for the army of the potmoac is not worth a tinker cause as far as fighting is concerened for they ar defeted evry time they so fight and I think that they had better let us do the work and them do the talking for that is the best that my an at there is strong fortifications around this place and ar still strengthening them and soon they will def the Rebels to take Nashville and all the rest of the country we can easily defend all the troops think the war must end soon I will now close for this time as I must do some washing this afternoon I am as ever your brother Martin Piper
To Daniel R Piper
Dry Run Franklin PA
Martin Piper Nashville
Co. SGT PA Cav Tenn
Write Soon
give me the news
Bro Daniel dear sir I had the pleasure of recg your note of the 2d inst an the 15th which was eagerly perused by brother Mark and myself I was glad to hear of your good health but while you are in the enjoyment of was sorry to hear of the ill health of your family We are all well at this period hoping if this messenger reaches you it may fnd you and the family in the enjoyment of the same The weather is getting very warm but the nights are very cool I am sorry to hear of our last defeat an th Potomac I see by the spirit and times that some of your Valley boys have shared the fate that soldiers are so apt to share we have been very lucky so far and I hope that this protection may still continue I also see that William Gaston is wounded in the thigh some times I think that this war will not close soon and I do not think I think rong Joseph McBitty and Conrad J Echenroad are in Landalle and have bee there for one month after harsed it appears that horses are ver hard to be had I recd a letter from uncle Joseph Piper and also one from Father stating that they ware all well at the period I had ritten to you not long times but you did not state whether you had recd it or not I hope you have We are expecting an all act at this place almost daily we stand picket in sight of other they ware up at the outpost of our advance to day with a Flag of truce far what purpose I did not learn they are in with a flag of truce allmost evry three ar four days we are kept very buiddy hear I am an picket every third day and some times every other day I was sorry to hear of the ill health of Samuel she are is family but I hope by this time they are in good health agane I suppose that the Dayles Town folks are in good spirits I have not heard any thing of David Muradath since I have left the valley but I suppose he is well and in the land and among the livin I have much more to write but time will not permit me so I have the honor to be yours Jonathan Piper
To Daniel R. Piper
PS and soon and give me the general news
Direct Jonathan Piper
This is the Co. F 9th Reg PA Cavalry
Nashville Tenn
you do not need to have that care of those officers on it