Huntsville, Alabama
January 20th 1865

My dear Father,

         In the great whirl of military affairs, battles and victories, I have almost forgotten the debt and credit of our correspondence. But if I owe you, this will pay it; and if you owe me, then this will add to that debt.          

          I have not heard from you for a very long time, longer than, I hope you will permit to intervene again. You have seen by the paper that we have fought Hood three days - one at Franklin and two at Nashville. He was awfully whipped each day. I never saw such utter rout and demoralization. The paper accounts are not exagerations. My brigade had the honor of saving the day at Franklin - this was asserted by Cox, Wagner, Stanley, Schofield and the immortal Thomas. The paper accounts of it in relation to me were all inccorect. I made that fortunate charge without orders from anyone, and purely on my own judgment and responsibility and I received no orders from the beginning of the battle until its close - when the Generals congratulated me "for saving the army." I have written Henry (Henry Opdycke, Emerson's brother) and sent him a little map, that I made of it. He will be with you soon, I presume and I would like you to read and see it. Our fighting at Nashville was easy - my brigade stormed enemy works - took 3 cannon, 1 battle flag and over 300 prisoners. The enemy never recovered from the bloody battle of Franklin and never will. The news of the fall of Fort Fisher has just reached us, and we all rejoice over the first great triumph of our Arms in 1865. We feel that this year must put a period to the bloody strife. Our Corps is here in splended winter quarters - my brigade has the finest I ever saw - so says the Corps Commander.

          This is a charming place but the people are mostly sesesh, and I don't like such one bit! Jerry Clemmens of the old Congress lives here -- a thorough Unionist. My headquarters are in his house. I had his nephew -- a secesh -- arrested the other day for shooting a Negro. He is youngish southern fire eater -- was brought in under guard after night and put in a darkie's kitchen for a prison over night. He wished to be brought before me in the morning, when he complained that he was not used to such quarters and such treatment. I replied that "it was much better than you deserve." "What was I arrested for?" I answered "for shooting with intent to kill a man." "Your civilization teaches you to stab & shoot whenever you think yourself offended, but ours teaches us that such practices are barbarous -- that Negros have just as many rights as you have, and that your practice of Negro concubinage are wicked, corrupt and abominable -- practiced only by Southern Chivalry." "You ought to be hung and hope you will be. Guard, take him out." He seemed sorry that he had made my acquaintance!

          We are all well getting ready for future operations. Had a letter from Henry yesterday of Dec 30th. He was all right, expecting soon to be a citizen. Good night.