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Regiment: 11th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned: Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
Historical Figures: John H. King, Joseph Hooker, Ulysses S. Grant
Hd Qrs. 11th Mich V. I.
Chattanooga
Nov. 10th 1863
Dear Cousin Phil.
Perhaps you
think that I have given
up the idea of writing
you again but how some
[ ? ]
let not your heat be troub-
led for I have no idea
of breaking up the corres-
pondence with you although
I don’t get an opportunity to
write as often as I would
wish. It has been so long
since I have recd a letter
from, or written one to
you, that I have quite for-
gotten which wrote last, but
if you will excuse me this
time I will promise to be
more regular in future, for
you must know that since I
last wrote you, we have
been transferred to the regular
Brigade, Commanded by Brig. Gen.
King.
My health is “firstrate”
& I manage to get along with
the usual (or unusual) am’t
of business without getting
very “round shouldered.
I have adapted the
old saying of “Jacob Faithful”
“Take it cool,” and get along
very well although I got
warmed up occasionally
but console myself with
“better luck next time.”
Everything remains
quiet here in our imme-
diate vicinity, yet those
who are posted say that
affairs are progressing
finely. Hooker from
below has opened the
communication by river
to within about 4 miles
of this place. His camp
are in sight. The rebs still
hold the point of “Lookout,” where
they have several heavy guns
which they fire every afternoon
at our camps. They heave
their shot & shell about rather
promiscuously but their atti-
tude is so great that they do
no damage. By the time they
reach us they “drop” perpendic-
ularly, leaving no mark except
a hole in the ground.
Our brigade comes on
picket once in six days now.
They are on today, and are hav-
ing a good time although they
cannot avoid taking it coolly
nights. The rebs must
enjoy themselves hugely
on “Lookout” where the wind
blows enough to raise the
har. If they like the position
let ’em
[ ? ]. Our heavy guns
on “Moccasion point” elevate an
occasional shot which makes
them hunt their holes in the
rocks. I wouldn’t wonder if
some of them should get sliv-
ers in their flesh in the “course
of human events.
I have heard that our pick-
ets exchanged papers to day &
that Atlanta papers state
that they have deemed it advi-
sable to evacuate our front
that we have got possession of the
river. that our forces occupy such
a portion of Lookout as to make it
unsafe. that their rail road commu-
nication has been broken their
next sheet
rear threatened etc. etc.
“Unconditional Surrender”
has assumed command here
and I think will ultimately bring
affairs to a “blissful finis”
He visited the picket
line a few days since and ri-
ding to a slight elevation dress
his glass and took a deliberate
view of their position, camps etc.
when putting it up he quietly re-
marked that “Thare were a great
many prisoners to parole”
I suppose you would think
it rather close quarters to be so
near the rebel pickets as to see
them wink & hear them talk to
each other. In one place the pick-
ets are separated by only a
small creek about twenty five
feet wide, out of which they both
get water. It is amusing to
hear them crack jokes at each
other. On the line, one can hear
the noise & hum of the camps on
either side. From our camp
we can see their tents, & trains
passing backward & forward
and at night, camp fires can
be seen in all directions,
yet our men are perfectly con-
tented. When they fire from their
batterries on “Lookout” they all
go out to see the think go off.
Occasionally a stray shot
will scream through the air
overhead and they will all stretch
their necks & open their mouths
to see where it strikes.
As it is getting quite late, I
will close with a promise to write
a few more lines in the morning
“Pleasant dreams & sweet repose”
Half the bed and now I close
L T S
Nov. 11th 1863
2 P.M.
I have just got thawed
out and according to prom-
ise, will write a few more
lines. I havn’t been so far
below zero since I have been
in the service as I was
last night.
There was a heavy frost
and water froze about the
thickness of wind on glass.
I have a tent “it is not
all a tent” for it is mostly
holes and would make a
good strainer for straining
eggs. I have a good fly over
it but it doesn’t keep the
wind out. Although it is a
good thing when it rains.
To day is as pleasant
as any we have had in a
long time.
When you write give
all of the news. What are
you & all the rest of the people
doing? How do you like Mich-
igan & Michigan people?
When are you to be mar-
ried & who to? These and 1,001
(one thousand & one) other ques-
tions which I would ask
please answer.
I sent you a paper
a few days since in care
of Dr. Williams.
My respects to him & all
the rest of the people in
general.
Please write soon
and often
Yours Truly
L. T. Squire
