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Herbert Dwight Ensign 14 th Ohio Light Artillery Lincoln Election Comments Dressed muskrats and 200 lb. Turtle Canada rebs & Mud a foot deep Great Envelope with Nashville P/M Herbert Ensign, 14 th Ohio Light Artillery, writes to his neice Clara T. Ensign from near Nashville, TN on Nov. 20, 1864. Lincoln Election Comments: “ Election went off all quiet in our Battery. McC [McClellan] – , got all of one vote. Father Abraham got one hundred, and five, and twenty, and had I been old enough, Abe would had one more.” Canada rebs: “ If there is not men enough left in the north to take care of all of the Canada rebs, first send down south for some of the “Soldier boys.” Describes seeing “dressed muskrats” and a 200 lb “turtal” at market in downtown Nashville: “ Oh Clara! I came near forgetting to tell you what I saw for sail on market street yesterday. They had dressed muskrats at several stands. It is the first I ever saw for sail. There is a Turtal [turtle] in one of the shops in town that weights over 200 pound” “ Mud is about a foot deep all around camp”: “ You complained of the weather you were haveing; We don't have even pleasant mornings “any more” it is cold, and rained from sunrise to sunset, and from sunset to sunrise, and we have to stay out in the mud, and wet, with but very little fire, and sleep under the tarpaulins where it is very cold when a fellow has but one Blanket. Our camp is about one mild [mile] from town, in an old cornfield, and mud is about a foot deep all around camp. I expect we will draw tents before long.” Transcription: “ In Camp at Nashville, Tenn. Sunday Morn Nov 20 th 1864. My Dear Neice, I received your kind letter last Friday evening, and I was very happy to hear that youens were all well. I also hoped your brother will have a pleasant visit at Albany, and that you, and Alta, will have a good School, and I wish I could be there to go to School with you. I wrote to Will last evening, and enclosed $1.50, but I expect he will never get it, for it is not in the letter box, this morning. I have a slight idea who has it. Prehaps I don't suspect the right man. I care very little where you put my Photograph. But Clara, the fact is, I hear the Beek , is intending, to get married before many years shall pass. Election went off all quiet in our Battery. McC [McClellan] – , got all of one vote. Father Abraham got one hundred, and five, and twenty, and had I been old enough, Abe would had one more. [Voting age was 21. He was 20 as of the date of this letter] If there is not men enough left in the north to take care of all of the Canada rebs, first send down south for some of the “Soldier boys.” You complained of the weather you were haveing; We don't have even pleasant mornings “any more” it is cold, and rained from sunrise to sunset, and from sunset to sunrise, and we have to stay out in the mud, and wet, with but very little fire, and sleep under the tarpaulins where it is very cold when a fellow has but one Blanket. Our camp is about one mild [mile] from town, in an old cornfield, and mud is about a foot deep all around camp. I expect we will draw tents before long. Some time ago I received a letter from Sapha C, one from Orpha, one from Stephen N, and a day, or two ago one from William. All were well when they wrote. I have received no letter from Alta for some time. Hope she has not stoped writing. Oh Clara! I came near forgetting to tell you what I saw for sail on market street yesterday. They had dressed muskrats at several stands. It is the first I ever saw for sail. There is a Turtal [turtle] in one of the shops in town that weights over 200 pounds. Clara I am getting to cold to write so I will close, hopeing to hear from you soon. Good by, Herbert ” [14 th Ohio Light Artillery] Great Envelope with Nashville Tenn postmark and cancelled 5-cent stamp. Addressed: “ Miss Clara T. Ensign [b. 1849 – d. 1885] Madison Ohio Lake Co .” Shipping to lower 48 states only Thanks for looking at my auctions