23rd NCT
Camps Near Fredickburg
May the 10 1863
Dear Granmother And
aints I take my pen inhand
to let yow know that I am well
at presint hoping when those
few lines comes to hand they
may find yow all enjoying the
Same kind blessing Granmother
we have had Ahard [????] of
it I was in line of battle
five days And five night I
was exspose to Shells And
bwllitts everday we never fird
Agin till Satwday eaving
we march 12 or 15 mils And
we was almost give owt
And when we got their we
form in lins of battle And
charge the enemy we charge
[page 2]
them threw Apiece of woods
Abowt one mile And A half
I never was tech only my belt
was shot intwo I press on
tell we charge abattery and
I give owt And I fell owt
And went to the hospittle
we was fired intwo Saterday moring
four Rounds with grape And
chanister Some of our noble
boys fell their granny this
thing of war is terribol thing
to See the wounded men
Swfering their with their legs and
arms Shot off And Shot to
pieces it is awffell I was not
with them Sonday nor
monday I thank my god I
I was Spared threw this
battle so that is Anwf on
that Swbject. W. H. Brotherton
Right Soon as yow get
theas few lines
[page 3]
May the 10 1863 Dear aints
I take my pen inhand to
let yow know that uncil
William was safe twsday moring
and their was no fighing
after twsday morning and
also uncle John was Safe
then So preacher Benie
told me So he said they
done Some mighty hard
fighting he praise them
mighty he said John
asberry was Slightly wounded

So no more
only Right Soon

Jack was wound in the
finger the doctor cwt
it off W H Brotherton
yow nint [1] to Say any thing about
aint Martha Brotherton
it Doctor hix say he shot himself
[page 4]
May the 10 1863 Dear granmother
And ant Salley an ant Milly and
ant mathy I seat my self to let
yow no that I am not very well
I am wor out fighting an marching
I rote you a few letter before I
Started in the fight I hope you
get it granny I saw something
I never saw before and I never
want to see if agin I went in
the first of the fight an went
through all of it I was in a place
whare the Balls fell like wheat
But i thank my god i never got
a thred tucht But i doo not
see how it was thare was one
of our company killed dead an
ninteen wounded an nine missing
jacob killian was killed dead
Jo is well as common i rote
home yesterday But you tell
any people that i am all right
unkel Bill went through Safe
i must Stop riting rite Son
H H Allen to grandmother an
friends