Camp near Orenge C.H.
A.N.V.A May 3d 1864 }
Mrs Catharine Lefevers Dear and
loving Wife I seat my self this
morning to Rite you a few lines in
answer to your kind letter which come
to hand last Night it come by D A
Haynes I did not see him my self
but he sent it to me by Macon
it was way in the Night when
he broat it in I had lay down
and droped of to sleep with you in
my mind and the Dear little babe
But this is a comen thing for me for
I neaver ly down without thinken of
you before I Sleep and when I wake
you air the first thing in my mind
Dear wife this leaves me well and
I hope when it may Reach your lovily
handes it may find you all well and
Doing well Dear wife I am Sorrow to
Say to you that this is the first letter
that I Recd since the 10th of last
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month or at least it was Dated the 10th
Dear wife you said that you have Recd
Eight letters from me sinse I left home
and that you had answerd them all I have
only had five with this one Since I left
home I cant See why it is my letters all
Seam to gow threw and wile yourn dont
come more Regelar I cant Say their is
Something not Rite a bout the mail
betwixt hear and home you dont no how
uneasy it makes me when I cant hear
from you for sow long no other letters
give me the same sattesfaction that yours
do I wish I could Read a letter from you
ever Day provided it could be so Dear wife
I was stil in hopes that Haynes would bring
me a Recruit but it has all failed you did
no Rite enny thing a bout it in your letter
I expect you had Rote Something a bout it
in some of your other letters that Ihave
not got yet I have bin loocken for a letter
from Maniel but have neaver Saw it
yet I Reckon I will have to give it up
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it is very serten that his son will
have to come out and I was in hopes
he would give me a furlough on him
but If he cant I most try and tuf it
out If it is the good lordes will to spair
my life I will get home a gain sometime
and I am in hope when I get home again
I will neaver have to come to this trouble
some place Dear wife thair is more talk
a bout peace now then ever I hird of
before but I am afraid it is only Sine
for a big fite Shortley we air now
loocken for a fight every day tel it comes
of on the Rapidan the papers last eavning
say that a fight will sertenly commense
in a few days on the Rapidan but we
all feal assured that If grant makes
an attack hear that bey the assistence of
the almighty we will give him what he
wont like all tho I have no doubt that
a menny one of us will fall in the Strougle
But If it is the lordes will for me to go in
that way I most yeald to it as menny
thousandes has but I stil hope and
trust that I may see the end
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of this troublesome war and then may the lord
grant that I may Return home to my loved
ones at home and neaver have to part with
them tel Death Shal part us Dear wife I Recd
a letter from Rockett also last Night they sent
me alittle somthing to eat it come very good
for we got but Short Rations hear give them
my thankes for it I will Say to you that
Sister Sarah and old granny Barges sent me
a haversack of Something to eat Some time
a go I have bin doing very wel Since
Hoyle was hear But from this on will be
a hard time threw the summer I beleave I
have Rote all I no you Rote in your letter that bud
did not get his money when I sealed up the
letter I for got to put it in and the next letter
I Rote I put it in it was a confederate 50 cents
pease and I also sent Sis & Ida each of them one
I hope they have got it before now tel them to be
purty childrean and paw will send them some
more before long we will draw money I hope
before long I have neaver Drew eny since I got
back please Rite to me soon and often you have neaver
give me the ful acct. of the Nans Cline tail yet I want
you to study a nuf up to fil the neaxt Sheet as close
as this is a long hear and then it will keep me a Readen
a while Rite every thing that you can think of and
what you cant think of guess at I will now close dont
for get to tel me something a bout the sweat little
babe I am ever your offectionate Husband until
Death Isaac To Catharine Lefevers & childrean
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Dear wife when you send me a letter see that the
stamp is on good Sometimes the Stampes comes of
and then the letters is lost