This letter was sent to me by an internet friend and is one of a collection written by "a young Union soldier from East Tennessee (Campbell County), members of his family, and his friends", compiled by the Peabody Demonstration School, Nashville in 1963. This one is of interest on this site in that a John Housley (1839-1868) is mentioned as the courier of the letter. This John Housley was the son of Robert B. Housley, the grandson of Joseph Owsley and a nephew to John Housley (1814-1894). He was married to Margaret Taylor. John and his brother Joseph both died young as a consequence of being soldiers in the Civil War.

The writer of the letter, William Harvey Chapman (first cousin, once removed to Rebecca Chapman), died on July 20, 1864 as a result of chronic diarrhea incurred in the war.

Nashville Tennessee April the 1 1864

Dear Father,
After my best respects to you and the rest of the family I take my pen in hand to rite you a few lines to let you now that I am well at the present time hoping when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all well and doing well. I have rote so much for the last few days to you that I hardly no what to rite this is some four or five letter I have rote to you since I received a answer from you. I wood not rite so often but I have a good opportunity of sending you this letter by the hand of John Housley. I will rite every chance I have and I want you to do the same By me when you cant git a chance to send by hand if you will mail your letter at Knoxvill or Williamsburg I will git them and be shure to direct your letter to the ninth East Tennessee Calvary Company. I. In car of Col. Joe Parsons I have seen a great many of my old friends here at thir place last eaveing I say Hyvern Green and Tobias. Right from Indiaania they both belong to the 120 indiannia ridgement they say there is twelve new ridgments maid up there in his knowing they are all coming to the front they say they can hardly miss men there in that state they told me that all of the people that moved from sedar creek and the borders of cedar was all well and was doing well they told me that old Mister Comer landed safe to the indaani he got there the day that Hyvern left home to come to Tennessee I have rote so often to you I hardly no what to rite. But I must fill oup my letter with something or other everything is high at this place eggs is worth forty cents per dozen pies is from 10 to 20 cents a piece apples is plenty but they ar high you can git four for a dime we have got in camps some five or six days rashings a head we git more than we can eat you rote to me that you would a run my name for some office but you dint know whether I would serve or not if I had a been alected for constable office I would a served the best I could though I am verry well satisfied here you know I had rather be at home if time was so I could be there. I think this war is bound to come to a close before long. I think the Rebs will play out after awhile though they may fight severl battles yet. I cant tell James Mccully is as funny as ever he was he is the same old gim yet. Davis Gregory is well he hand forgot how to laugh yet he is the same old Davis yet I woulda bought granmother and the girls all a fine dress patern but it is so far that I could not send them home you must take that fifty dollar bill I sent home you must take it and go to Williamsburg and buy them all a fine dress patern a piece and when you go git them you must rite a letter and take with you and put in the office and send it to me and don’t fil Tell Ashley Ivy wife that Ashley is at the Nashvill and he is well at the present and a fact most of the Campbell County boys is here at Nashvill I see a great many boys hear that I am aquainted with Tell John Evans that James Robinson is here at thir place he is well and as mean as he ever was every time I see him I think of the night the old rebble come to our house and got that whiskey from under my little table. I have never liked him since that night. I must rite a few lines to Joseph and Alvis. I want you both to be good boys and mind what is said to you and when I come home a gain I will try to bring to you something or other that will please you girls. I want you all to rite and give me the times in gineral and I will answer your letters with all pleasure in the world. Tell John Evans to rite to me and give me all the news he has in his shop and I will answer your letter. G.W. Chapman is well he sends his best respets to all of you tell granmother and aunt polly hat I would like to see them both very well. I have been in a habit of giting some of the boys to rite my letter but I think I will rite myself from now on what of this letter you cant read you must guess at and go a head you must tell me how you are a giting along with your farming and so on and tell me how many oats and lover you sowed this spring and how many hogs you have got and how many head of cattle you havegot and how many sheep. V. C. I have rote so much that I am tired of riteing and I always like to see a long letter and I will send you a tolerable long one. I must windoup and bring my letter to a close. By saying to you rite every chance you have so no more at present but remain yours truly until death.

RITE TO ME EVERY CHANCE DNT FAIL ROTE BY WM. H. CHAPMAN