The following letter was written by Andrew Fern (1843-1919), the son of James Fern, Jr. (1806-1852) and Ann Coon (1804-1886) of Milford, Otsego county, New York. In August 1862, at the time of Andrew’s enlistment, he was a resident of Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois. As such, he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 95th Illinois Infantry. The enrolling officer recorded his description as a 5’5″ light-haired, blue-eyed farmer. He served out his enlistment, mustering out of the regiment on 17 August 1865 at Springfield, Illinois, as a corporal.

The 95th Illinois had an extensive and proud record of service in the western theatre of the war, including their participation in the Battle of Nashville that took place on 15-16 December 1864—just ten days after this letter was penned. In this letter to his family back in New York, Andrew informs them that his regiment is well fortified at Nashville anticipating an attack any hour from Hood’s army and though he accurately estimated the Union strength at 55,000 men, he grossly overestimated the Confederate strength at 75,000 men. In actuality, Hood’s forces approximated only 30,000. Hood’s defeat at Nashville signaled the end for his Army of Tennessee. In six months of campaigning, they had lost nearly 75% of their fighting force and ceased to be a serious threat to the Federals. The Union victory at Nashville shattered Hood’s Army of Tennessee and effectively ended the war in Tennessee. Following Nashville, the fall of the Southern Confederacy was now only a matter of time.

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Nashville, Tennessee
December 5th 1864

Brothers at Home,

I take a few leisure moments to write you a few lines. We are now at Nashville, Tennessee. The regiment is now all together with the exception of one company and that is Company K. We expect them here in a couple of days.

For nearly one week we have been working on two breastworks and we have got breastworks made all around the city. General Hood, Forrest, and General Bragg had had a fight with our General Thomas and have drove him into this place and Smith’s forces have been here and fortified and their intention is now to hold him here until we can get force enough to send in the rear of him. We expect that he will make an assault into our lines every day so we are in readiness. Their pickets and ours are only about 40 rods [220 yards] apart. The artillery is playing at them all the time but they are very quiet with theirs and their force, we think that they are making preparations to make an assault onto our lines. Their forces altogether is estimated at about 75,000 and ours about 55,000.

I suppose that before long there will be a great battle fought here. We are looking every hour for it. The boys are usual well and in good spirits, although we have got a lot of recruits in the regiment and I don’t know how they will perform into a battle but they look like good old war dogs.

I am in good health with the exception of a bad cold. My partner is well as usual, McKendry Bishop—he is a son of Leander Bishop. I will close by saying that you must write soon. I will write in a few days again if nothing happens to me and tell [you] how it comes off.

A well wish from your true brother, — Andrew Fern

To Mother and Brothers at Home. Direct by way of Nashville, Tenn.