Friday May the 22 /63
Camp Aquia Creek
My Dear Wife
I have just received a letter from you and you cant think how much good it done me. I hadent had one before in two weeks. We get a mail every day and I would watch it but I was disappointed every day until to day it came. You dident write two weaks ago not getting a letter from me. I know you would have more troubel about me but I come out alive and that was about all. I was sick before we started. I had the worst cold I ever had and they marched us early and late and fast. We couldent have time to cook a cup of coffe a good deal of the time and the eight days rations lughed. It was a still march. They dident sound a bugle nor beat a drum until after we got acrosed the Rapidan River and then we dident care. I have just got over the effects of the march and fight. I begin to feele pretty well againe. I was completely tiered out but I stood it about as well as the rest of the boys. If I was sick they all run down. I lost 15 lbs in 13 days but I am gaining now. I am verry glad you are so smart. I hope you and the children will enjoy good health while I am gone for you have it hard enough at the best. I am glad the baby is so good. He wont be so mouch troubel. Poore little Matie I wish she was a little older so she could help you some. I wish Rachel could staied with you a little longer. You must be verry careful and not work to hard. You had better try and get a girl a fiew weaks but I feele better about it than I would if we dident have a good old mother close by. Tell our folks not to worry about me. I think it will be my good luck to return home one of these days. I heard Rastus had got his discharge and gone home. They was lucey boys to get out so easy. Our country is in danguer and I want to see it safe before I come home. I am willing to do all I can to put down the war. If I hadent ben I wounted went on the last march. I heard to day that the state of Georgia had laid down their arms and come back in the Union as they were. I hope it is true. We lost some over eleven thousent in the battle of Chancellorville. Our wounded suferd terebly. The rebels shot railroad iron and bunches of files. They made a terable slaughtering. Billy wanted to know who was gone. It was Wm Brink C Snedecher V Holcomb L Woster and D Messereau killed. We have heard from our prisoners. They are peroled. They are in Anapoles MD. Capt Davis has rezined and gone home. He is sick. He raised blood. He was hit by a peice of shell in the Sunday fight. It hit him in the back. It dident wound him but I think it is the cause of his spitting blood. We was all sorry to see him go. We have verry warm days here now. Give my repects to Erastus and the rest of the folks. I shal have to close for this time. I have got to drill now. I send my love to you.
So good buy Charlotte