Colonel Lyons.
Headquarters 13th Regt. Wis. Vol., Camp Bigney, near Nashville, Tenn, Sun. p. m., Nov. 1, 1863.—It takes considerable writing, I find, to give you our exact ‘locus in quo,’ as the lawyers say, but you have the whole story in the heading to this letter. We named the camp yesterday, on parade, in honor of the major who selected it, and whose influence brought us here; and a beautiful camp with most beautiful surroundings it is, too. The weather is very pleasant today, but we have had a very severe rainstorm and have frosty nights.
It is a little rough lying on the ground, and I have neither floor nor fire in my tent, yet I stand it well. Jerry is quite indignant that I should live so. Says he, ‘Colonel, it’s enough to kill a hoss to sleep on that wet ground! Yes, sir, it’s enough to kill a good hoss!’ I have not yet secured any rooms for us, although I am diligently hunting for them. I would like to have the children here, but looking the thing all over my best judgment is that they will be better off at home. I have got a pony for you to ride when you get here—gentle as a lamb, and my horse is a beauty. I ride a good deal.
