Selma Ala
Aug the 29 1863
Mrs Mary F Jones
Dear wife it tis [one?] time that seat my self to
let you now that i hav not forgoten you yet nor [1]
nuver will as long as i liv an i now you wife
do [the?] same Francis i have not hurd from you [?]
one time sence i [left?] jackson an it twas [????]
[???] [???] i was [???] that i wood get to her from you
when james Savedge come back but he [???] [did?]
come back when his time was out i was [???] [????]
the other boys come back an i dident her from you
an [????] faney [????] my helth it has bin
very [sary?] but it tis beter at this time i hope
my health will get good a gane you needent
to bee uneasy a bout mee for it cant do now
good fore wee are in the hands of our crater wee
must look in him fore our protection Faney the
hole armey is leaving Miss a going to Chattanooga
to reinforse Brag tha are three Co of our redgiment
here an the rest went by Mobile wee meet at
Montgomery Ala wer wee go from her on a bote
faney i will tell you of an awful surcumstance that
happend as we come a long on the Cars jaret Gray
was on the top of the Cars an fell off when it
was runing very fast an surposed it kiled him
wee havant hurd from him yet Wm R Jones
[Page 2]
William Smith is gone back to see a
him faney i hav the chance to send this by
Wm shelby an i will hafto write in a hurey
wee are on the bank of the river rdy to start
when ever the bote get redy for us faney i
think our leters are destroid on the way or by
the offisers tell pap an Mother that John an
William is bowth well an i want thim to remember
mee i want to bee rememberd by all the Conection
an friends i want you to rite as soon as you get
this direct it to Mont Ala My dear companion
the time has bin long sence i seen you an i fear
it twill bee a heap longer still pray for mee
the bote is redy an i will haf to quit
kiss my babe for mee tell him that
his paw wants to see him veary bad
good By
William Riley Jones To
Mrs Mary Francis Jones
an friends
W R Jones