Not all letters are "battle" discriptions. Some just give "insight" to the man....

April the 4th, 1862

Old Lieutenant Sned is sick at Savana and was very bad the last I hear from him. Lieutenant Stevenson is at home, he sent a letter back to his army, he was nearly well and he would be with us in a few days. He is so brave we all want to see him come back, he is one of the old blue hands chickens. Well, old Cap. is sponkie to the back bone too. Well Amanda, Andy Bell and Barnet Petego run in the Donalson battle and got behind a log and Barnet run clear to Fort Henry which is 12 miles. Them was all the cowards we had in our company. Colonel Smith said he did not want any of his boys shot in the back, if either of them had a got shot, it would have been in the back so no more about that. I heard they was fighting on the Island Number 10 and have been for some time. Our men has them surrounded and will whip them after while without the loss of many soldiers. Our mortor guns will shell them to death, they will have to surrender after while. I think it will be the deciding battle in the war too. I wouldn't be much surprised if it didn't settle the whole business of it. Well Amanda, I was glad to hear that you have joined the church and will tell the children the way to happiness. Amanda, I hope you will be faithful in discharging all religious duties. Amanda, I say a man can live religious in the army. I know I am a stouter man than I ever was in my life before. I have no desire to induldge in anything that is bad. I think he stands me in hand to live so that I had to meet men on the battlefield. I believe our cause is a just one and when the orders was given to load and shoot at will, I done it in the fastest way it could be done in. I don't know how many men I shot.
So I must close my letter Amanda. If you get that money I sent you I want you to send me some postage stamps, they cost a dime a piece here and we can't hardly get them at that.

John Thompson

to

Amanda Thompson