~Letter written by I. L. VanMeter~
Isaac VanMeter, born March 15, 1819, was Nancy's 1st cousin. His mother, Susannah Downing was Nancy's mother's sister. Elzey, Hugh and Isaac were all siblings and lived in Cairo, Ohio.
Camp in Chattanooga Valley
Georgia Sept 15th 1863
Cousin Nancy,
Yours of Aug 31st cam to hand a few days ago but as we was on the march at the time I could not answer sooner. I wrote you a letter but a short time ago as I supposed you had not got the two I wrote you some time ago. I was indeed glad to hear from you again for I had come to the conclusion that you had forgotten me entirely. You speak of being invited to a wedding out at Dunkirk but did not tell me who Miss Miller man's name was. I wish I was where I could have a chance to go to a wedding I believe I would go if it was not more than a weeks march any how. Well cousin we are having some pretty tough times now days crossing the mountains. It’s up one and down another. We have been helping our supply train over look and mountain for the last five days and the dust is so deep that we looked more like clay banks last night when we came to camp than men. We have marched about five miles today and are now camped in line of battle & expect to have a fight here. It may commence today yet. The Rebs are camped in sight of us they are said to be eighty thousand strong. If that be true it will be a pretty big fight. We have got them pretty well surrounded and if they stand a little longer I think we can end the war pretty soon now. We had one man killed out of our division last night on picket & one wounded. You want to know what I think of the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio. I do not think much of him but about as much as any other soldier. I understand they are counting on the soldiers vote but there is not one soldier out of a hundred that will vote for him but if they want him shot there is 99 out of every hundred that will do that for him but I will close hoping to hear from you soon. I am very respectfully yours,
I. L. Vanmeter