I finally talked my sister Alice Coatney into transcribing another of the letters
Nashville Coatney sent home to his brother George Washington Coatney in 1861. Nashville
was a union soldier in the Indiana 13th Volunteers. His brother George Washington Coatney
lived in Scott County, Indiana. Nashville Coatney never made it home at the wars end and I
still do not know exactly what happened to him. Don Coatney
Beverly Va Dec 13the 1861
Dear Brother this morning I attempt to rite to you a few lines to inform you of my good
health hoping those few lines may find you enjoying the same well George the 13the Rg has
been in one more fight But I was not there it is the first March we ever made But what I
was a long well our men had to retreat But we killed a good many of them and we lost 30
out of our Reg we only lost one out of our Company and that was William Brown from
Maroefield I exspect you no him one Corporal out of the 13th shot General Johnson and
killed him they drove them in there Camp and Burned it they had 3 to one of us there was
6000 of them and only 3 thousand of us well we will go back and give them thunder Some of
these days we had no artillery and they had 9 peaces well George I think we will have to
Stay here all winter all of the Ind Reg has left here But 2 and that is the 9 and 13th and
if we was to leave here I think the Rebels would take western V.A. agane But the Ohio Boys
and V.A. Boys i!
s good pluck all Except the 25th and 30th the 25th run at the last Battle and the 30th has
left So we are all rite now well George I have told you all I no now A Bout the Battle now
I will try to tell you more a But it the next time Some of our Boys has not got Back yet
George I have 35 dollars I would like to Send to you But I cant send it in a letter for it
is all gold and the first Chance I get I will Send it to you By Express I think one of my
Mess mates By the name of Heinneds will get a furlough and I will Send it By him we ar
Bulding winter quarters now Well I will Bring my nonsense to a Clos By Saying Rite Soon
without fail
N. Coatney to G. W. Coatney