Manassas Junction, VA Sept 15/63
Dear Sister Cad.
We have not received any letter from
you since we wrote, but that don’t
make much differance with us bout wr-
iting we heard by way of [home?] that
you had been sick most all summer
which is very bad as health is the
principle stuff of life. Our health
has been first rate since
we wrote you. Let me see we hav
not wrote since we left Stafford I
believe. I suppose you have heard all
about our being in the Great Battle of
Gettysburg. Well that was an awful
Battle & we were exposed to the very wor
st of the cannonading which was terif
fic. We supported (our Brigade) 4 batteries
which were stationed at Cemetry
Hill & exposed to cross fire from
3 ways. I will draw a map of the line of
battle & then you can see
[page 2]
We recd a letter from Dick dated
Sept 6th He was well then & having
purty good times. I suppose you have
heard from him also. Our folks at
home are all well but mother, & she
is getting better now. I guess she
has had a purty hard time of it
[?????] had a hard time last spring
our folks get along first rate with
out us al though it costs cousil
erable to hire a hand. Well consid
we shant have to stay down here
forever The Rebelion is shurely hard
up now & the fall of Charleston &
another such a whip as Gettysburg
would end the infernal thing
what a happy country would this
one be if peace was only declared
The Rebs are fairly whipped & if the
voice of the people could be had
they would come back to day
the leaders will carry it on as long
as they can git a man to fight
[Page 3]
I have been away from the Regt.
for most a month & jest got back
I was on detatched service & had bully
times but as Hank was not with me
I would bout as leave be with the regt.
we live well now can git milk &
green corn by paying for it or stealing
it,, Our rations are bully draw soft
nice bread I have not eat a hard
tack in over a month. I feel now as tho
ugh I would like a mess fust rate
I guess ill git them for a fellow jest
come from camp says the we are ordered
to have 5 day rations,, “Hard bred” thats
marching rations I guess,, I am now
out on the RR and doing picket.. Have
easy times for I am acting as corporal
Hank was out here & was taken sick &
went in I was in camp yesterday &
he was some better. Had the diahrae
Hee will soon git over it I guess
we expect to be relieved to day for
our 3 days is up which we come
out for
Page 4
I have drawed a map of the battle
you can git something of an idea
how the shell rained in our cemetry
hill tairing up graves knocking monu-
ments & iron fences killing horses &
men & knocking guns end way
there was some noise when those
cannons all got to playing What
do you think,, well Cad I hope you
will be well enough to answer
this miserable epistle when you
git it.. I am going in to camp be
fore long & will see Hank perhaps
he will write some. I hope you
are all well by this time you give
my love to [????] & George
George you must write to us to
so good by for this time
from your Afect Bro
Jim S. Jones
of
Co. 6. 136
NY SV
Cad & George L orpha
[1] much love to all
to his friends
in the west
lead & [???????&?????] [2]