State of Kentucky
October the 17-1862

Dear father and mother. I once more take my pen in hand to inform you that we are both well at present and hope when these few lines comes to hand they find you all well and doing well.
I can inform you that we have been in a mighty big battle but we nary got hurt. We lost three thousand and four hundred, the rebels lost seven thousand. I seen dead men laying so thick that I could walk on them for a half of a mile. The rebels tried to take one of our batteries and they come to a charge bayonets six times and there was where dead men laid. The battle coming one evening and they fought all that night and next day. It was an awful sight to see, the wounded men. I seen about two cords of legs and arms that had been cut off, it looks hard to see such a sight. I must bring my letter to a close for it is getting dark. Write soon, some more at present.