It is with feelings of no ordinary regret, mingled with true grief that I have to announce to you the too sad intelligence of the death of two very dear friends and relatives of yours, who fell of Sunday 30th Inst. in the great battles of Chickamauga Creek, while nobly maintaining the Color of their Country.

I allude to your Son in Law Sergt. William Blake and your nephew Jno. M. Goodwin. They have fallen and two nobler more gallant Spirits never, never fell-than they. Both of them pressed forward with unprecedented bravery, beyond the front of the Co. and Regt. in one of the most daring gallant charges made during this war. When John Goodwin was first wounded, he was near me in the front line. I saw the blood pouring from his wound and ordered him to go to the rear with his sound. He refused to go, saying "that he intended to stand to his Captain & Colors until they went through the charge victoriously." But poor, noble brave man, he fell in a few minutes pierced with 12 bullet holes; he was literally shot to pieces.

During the charge I told Sergt. Wm. Blake to remain at his post in the rear of his Co. to keep our own men from firing over their Comrades in the front line, but when his fierce EYE saw that the enemy were routed, he left his place and pressed forward beyond the front line of his Co. & Regt. Several paces, & noble and bravely stood 20 steps of the Enemy's line of destructive fire, firing his trusty rifle unsheltered & unprotected, by trees or logs- until he was Shot dead in the head & arm. This is a sad blow to you & Mr. Blake, it is true, but you both should take consolation in the fact that they fell in a Noble Cause and that their fall was attended with such unflinching gallantry & bravery, that no blot or stain is left upon their brilliant records. I sent to Mr. Grant of Jacksonville, for publication a list of killed & wounded yesterday as far as I then knew. I will send another correct one the 1st opportunity. We whipped the enemy and completely routed them; it was a glorious, glorious victory to us. The enemy is fast crossing the river at Chattanooga & our Army is pressing them. We have thus far captured 13,000 prisoners & they still come in. We are going right on now to Kentucky. My whole company acted very gallantly and bravely, but my loss is heavy. I lost 26 men in killed and wounded, I took 36 men into the fight and lost 26- Sert Jno. Hamilton was killed when acting very bravely-- Ware, Palmore & Tedder, too were killed. All noble fellows. Jno Blake, Wm. Norton, Baugh, Bullard, Braden, Wm. and Riley Eubanks, Gentry AB Hiton, Miller, McDaniel, Poore, Pesnell, Riddle, Skelton, Smith, Wise, and Sergt. Corsser (or Coaker) were all bravely discharging their duties.

I will write to Mr. Green and the parents of all my heroic boys who were killed, the first opportunity. We are now in a moving condition. Show this letter to Mr. Blake, Mr. Green and all the friends of the company. Lieut. Heflin of Handley's Co. is dead from a mortal wound.

I want to keep John's boy 'Zack.' I will pay his wife good for him. Please secure him for me. I will keep him until I hear from - John spoke of it before the battle and told me if he was unfortunately captured or killed I could keep him and account to his wife for the hire.