As to day is wash day and haveing an oportunity to write I will improve it in the best way possible (that is I consider it so) We are all well and doing well with nothing to excite us only the news in the papers and that we do not believe all of it only what we know to be so That expedition that went into East Tenn has come back just as they were comeing 4 pieces of the 4 0 B Capt Conkle Compy gave them a salute they fired about 40 shots it was the quickest work that I ever saw it was one continuous roar of blank cartridge and the boys sent up a shout

I will begin and tell you as near as I can of their proceedings after they crossed the Cumberland Mountains when they left here the remainder of the 44 under Col Gilbert went to what is called big creek gap to draw the attention of the rebs and let the rest through they took another rout and came upon a little town and took about 60 prisoners and paroled them on the spot then they made for another town so as to have their forces there and then they another direction and burnt a bridge took 6 guns 200 prisoners 1000 Stand of arms and a lot of cannon cartridges and destroyed them one salt peter works salt peter sugar meal salt and forage then they made for Knoxville so as to

blind the force there they burnt 4 bridges and destroyed over 50 miles of R R track then started on their return Then they had to retreat in good earnest for a large force of the rebs followed them they started for a gap and they had felled trees across the road and the gap was full of butternuts then our command had to leave 2 guns or a section of the 4 Battery the Lieut of the Battery gave orders to spike them and cut the carrages down the Lieut cried like a child when he gave the order to spike them he is all out of about 30 horses that the Battery took away with them they only brought 3 they was jus completely used up 1/3 of the men was on mules when they came back

The retreat was what issued up so many of them sometimes they were completly surrounded and they would cut their way out They captured 15 pieces of Artillery between 800 & 900 prisoners and paroled them with only the loss of 2 men did they not do well I tell you they done a good deed We would do just as much good if we had horses I must finish up good by give my love to all enquireing friends

H E Randall