Miss okolona May the 18, 63

Dear Cosen I seat my self to rite
you a feu lines whitch leaves me well and I hope these few lines ma find
you well and all the famely I receve you letter last nite and was glad to
hear from you I have nothing of im portance to rite a bout we have hard
times hear at this time we Cant get water for our horses to drink and
hardley eny Corn to feed on tell uncle William that he is excuse for no riting
to me but I ask him to git Catheren a par of shuse and send to her if he
Can and she will pa him for them and his truble the yanks have got Jackson
but re port ses tha Cant hold hit tell ant Jane and Cosen loo howdy for me
tell Cosen loo to rite to me
I will close by saying give my bst respect
to all inquiering frends good by for this time
J.B. Athey to Emily Athey
J.B.Athey

Chickeesauge Miss okolona
Dear Brother I this morning
take the opetunity to rite you afeu lines whitch in formes you that I am
well and I hope this ma find you and the Childre well Jim I herd that you
was agoing to the war Jim I ask you to take a Brother advice I think you had
better stay at home if you had seen what I hav I think you wod be willing
to [t]say at home tell Gorge to be a good boy nothing more at this time rite soon
to me
yours un tell death
J.B. Athey to
J.W.B. Athey