Wauhatchie Tenn
Nov the 17 /63
Dear Charlotte
I once more take the opportunity to write a fiew lines to you in answer to this letter. I received it Sunday evening and was verry glad to hear that you were all well. I am not verry well. I have got the piles pretty bad. I never had them before. They commenced Sadurday and Sunday and yesterday. There was blood and matter left me and it is no better to day. They are blind piles. That is what the boys tell me. I havent reported to the doctor yet. I went on brigade guard Sunday and have just come to camp. I must see the doctor to day but I dont belive he can do eneything for me. I guess I will get well in a fiew days. There is quite a number of the boys had them. If they should march now I dont believe I could carry my knapsack but I guess we wont have to march verry soone. I hope not. The rebs have got posession of Lookout Mountain yet. They ceep throwing shell every day. There was very heavy canonadeing on the other side the mountain early this morning. The rebs ceep deserting yet every day. There was two woman came into our lines yesterday. They lived on Lookout Mountain. They sead they couldent get eneything to eat. One woman had a husband and a son in the army. They came in Sadurday knight. They say two thirds of Brags army are barefoot and cant get eney shoes. They say they are wiphed and that there is no use of fighting. I wish I could ben home and voted. I suppose the Democrats was mad to see so meney soldiers come home to vote. It is a good one on the copperheads to have every state and county go union. There was no soldier went home from here. We have got all we can attend to here but Grant is gaining on them every day. There was eight 32 lbs pariot guns brought here Sadurday and more coming. They wont dare to fight here. We are to strongley fortified. I guess our men are getting around in the rear of them. I suppose there will a hard battle somewhere before long but I am most shure we will whip them at every point. I would liked to ben home when Jacob was. He must come reather unexpected. Poor little Matie thought it was me. His soldier clothes made her think it was me. I guess if I could ben there she would known the diferance. You sead you you never felt better since we were maried than you do now but the baby takes your fat. He must be a big baby. You must weene him as soone as you dare to and then you will recruit up again. James Webster was one of the mising in the last battle. His Co think he was taken prisoner. He was taken on purpes. He was a poor soldier. He never done much duty and he was a great cowerd. He run that knight and the rebs got almost in our rear and he run right in amost them. That is the way I think he was taken or else he got back and when the battle was over he was ashamed to come to the regt and straid off to the rebs lines. Every man that was at his post where he should be wouldent ben taken. You may tell Dingmans folks that he is mising supposed to be a prisoner and let them tell his wife. Tell Batchers folks they must apply for Jims bounty and back pay. I wrote a letter Sadurday so I guess I will close for this time. I am anxous to get an answer to some of the letters I wrote after the battle to know if you heard from me or not. My love to you dear Charlotte.
Chas Engle to Charlotte Engle