Head Quarters ^“Wilders” Brigade Mooresville Ala March 22d/ 64

Dear Col.

We have been looking very anixousley (sic) for some time for your “Comeing” (sic) but you dont (sic) come worth a cent, and I notice by the Journal that the 17” have been refurloughed for (30) days and if such is the fact I suppose it will be some considerable time before you get here, and thinking you would like to hear where we are and what we are doing I concluded to drop you a line. We are in camp near Mooresville that is the Brigade Hd Qrs and here with the 123d Ills and that portion of the 72d that did not go to Mississippi, the 92d Ills are at Inianna (sic) (10) miles above here, the 98” Ills are at Cleveland Tenn. The 72d Md. are on the road for this place they left Nashville the 20th Inst. A great many of their men are dismounted entireley (sic) and a great maney (sic) others are riding horses & mules, that are not fit to travel. In fact they could not make one days forced march -and it is impossible to remount them here. The horses are not here neither can they be had in the country. We have a lot of horses here feeding but there is not 25 horses in the lot that will be fit for service this summer. Another difficulty is in the way, and that is in regard to arms. We can’t get Spencer Rifles for the recruits that are coming forward. The 72d made a requisition for as maney (sic) rifles as they needed and they sent them the Spencer Carbine. They are a good Carbine but not near as efficient as the rifle. There are rumors afloat ever day here that the Mounted Infantry in this department are to be dismounted, and unless they can furnish a large lot of horses and furnish them soon I think they had better dismount them. I know that we are not in as good condition for a campaign as we were 2 months ago. And unless we can get fresh horses we never will be in condition to make a campaign. The health of the command is good and they all seem to be enjoying themselves hugeley (sic). Capt Preston goes fishing whenever the weather will permit. Last night we had a snow storm the snow to day is six inches deep on the level.

Something that never was heard of before in this country by the oldest inhabitant the weather is warm today and the snow is melting fast. This part of Alabama is the finest country I ever saw. Genl. Dodge is in Decatur, there is said to be a large force of Rebel Cavalry opposite Whitesburg 20 miles from here and some uneasiness is mani­fested here in regard to their intentions. Genl Logan thinks they mean to cross and destroy the rail road if possible. The rail road is now in running order from Nashville to Stevenson via Athens and Huntsville -

Please write when you have time.

Truley (sic) yours,

J.B. Crick

J.B. Crick