Camp Gregg [??] June 1st 1863
Dear Brother I seat muself to drop you
a few lines to let you know that I am well
as common. hoping these lines will find you
& your Fathers famly well John I have
nothing of much Interest to write I will
tell you a few of my ups & downs.
night before last we was aroused up
between 10 & 11 Oclock to gow on picket it
was thaught that the Yankees was ma-
king a move to cros the River, & we went
out to meet them, if they should come we
went about 2 ½ miles near the River
stacked armes and we was allowed to
lie down & sleep if we could som slep
soundly I did not sleep much my mind
being on my Dear Wife & little wons at
home, I dream of them often of being with
them, you do not draw any ida how
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I feal being compeld to stay from
them 5.00 chances to 1 wether I ever shall
see them a gain on earth if I do not
I feal that I shall meet them in heaven
John I like to forgot what I amed to write
you we staid there untill about 9 Oclock
Sunday morning when we come back to
camp we could see the Yankees over the
river riding about our Orders is now
to be ready to march at a moments
notice we can not tell when we will
have to march it depends on the move
of Hoocker if he makes a move we will
have to move to meet him let it be where
it may I have but little fears if he cross
es the river at this point we are tolerable
well fortified at this place 10 or 15 miles
up & down the River I do not think he
will attemped a crossing here for he knows
our sittuation he sends up Balloons &
can see all over the whole country,
John I would liked if you had been
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last Friday to see a few men in one
large field we had a division review
on the review each Rgt was divided
into two divisions & drawn up inn line one
in rear of the other about half wheeling
distance, it formed a line of Regmental
divisions about one mile long each
Regiment marching one after the other
marched squar up & left wheeled
marched about 150 or 200 yds left
wheel again back in front of the extreem
left left wheeled & took our first position
Genls Lee Hill & Heath was present
it was a grand thing to a spectator our
Regt was on the extreme left so I had
a tolerable chance to see the whole Division
the most men I ever saw at one time
before I have Just come off of Rgt
guard I had to stand yesterday and
last night John I want you to write
to me all the news in the neighbor
-hood & how the wheat & Oates and
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corn crops is I want you if you
can to see to the saving of my wheat
Oates & other crops for if it is not
saved I am fearful your sister and
Children will suffer I want you
to be shure that your Sister is not
imposed upon, I am fearful that there
is some people about ther is trying
to do it already from what she
wroat me. about giving in my
taxes. I think if every man will
attend to his own it will do unless he
is acting agent, tell Delia I wroat her
a letter last saturday week, with a
yankee likeness in it, I got hers the
next eavening & answerd it immedialy
let me know if she has got them. give
my love to Leweaser & children and
all the neighbors. tell your Father & Mother
I want their prayers I feal like I shall come
home again but I may be mangled so I
well be but little use to my famly. let Delia
see this. tell her to write often. write soon
as you get this I. S. Upchurch