Dear Parents:

I embrace the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well and other things. I hope these lines will find you all enjoying good health. In the first place I will give you a history of your kin folks and my visits among them. I am speaking mostly to mother now. Well shortly after I wrote you before Cousin George Repass and I went to hunt up some of the Raders-our connection. We proceeded about a mile south of camp and met a boy. "Good morning, little man." "How are you gentlemen?" "Well, little man, is there any one living out this way by the name of Rader," said I. "Well yeth their." "How far is it?" "About three quarters of a mile. The first houth you gits too." "Good bye, little man," and on we went. We came to a house and talked with an old lady that looked to be about 90 and said her father's name was Peter and said she had heard him speak often of your brother Conrad Rader.But enough of this. 

Well this month they have been giving furloughs. I think we are good to stay here with General Longstreet if we are not called to Virginia in a very short time. General Sam Jones has been relieved of his command in Southwestern Virginia and General Breckenridge is to take command of that department and if Breckenridge does not call us back to our old command then I think we are gone up for Longstreet's army. My opinion is that right here in this country will be the next fighting in the spring. I think the campaign will open early in the spring about Knoxville unless we can force the enemy to evacuate East Tennessee this winter. I hope and believe that with the end of 1864 will come the end of this unholy war.

I have written enough for the present. You need not write me any more till you hear from me again for if anything happens that I don't get to come home I will write and if I do come, I will be there before your letter could reach me unless you get this very soon. Give all the neighbors my respects. I close hoping ever to have your prayers for my safety and success through life and after death to enjoy the blessedness of heaven.

Your Son,
Thomas W. Fisher
                                     
               
 
 

COPYRIGHT© 1998 Dianne McGinley Gardner - All rights reserved.  Copies for personal use and research may be freely made.  Commercial use is prohibited without permission.