A few lines to Marthy jane
May the 1 1863 Shelbyville Tennisee
I am in the tolerabel helth & i am tol
larble well satisfide as mutch so as
could be expected for me to be to
be away from hom & exposed to all
of the privations of a camp life &
i truly hope that this will reach your
hand in due time & find you all well
& doing well dear companion I do
want to se you & the god blesed
little children may god bless you
all withe all the blessings boath spir
itual & temporal that his all seaing
eye Seas that you do stand in nead
of to make you happy while in this world
& in the world to come & bless you
withe the best of helth til i come home a
gan if ever i do i want you to rite
as soon as you git this & let me how
you are gitting along give me all of
the nuse you can about every thing
& how you are giting along withe
your crop & i want you to let me
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no all about the children how thay
are doing tell them that i want the
m to be good children & mind what
you say to them tel little James
to be a good boy Marthy i want you
to kiss little frank for me bless his
sweat little hart i dont no what i
would give to sea you & him & sea you
kiss him & kiss you my selfe I want
the connection to rite to me i have
not forgot them i want to no
whether you have herd from John
or not i cant here from him i found
James nums here he is well we are
not in the same ridgement but
i se him every day i have nothing
interesting to rite to you so i will close
by saying god bless you all direct
your letters to Shelbyville Tennissee
Wm B. Gilliland th22 Ala. Regt. Co. E
in keer of Capt Mordica
Wm B Gilliland to Marthy J Gilliland
& family in bonds of love fare well