August the 15 63
Dear Catharine I received a letter
from you to day bearing date August
the 2 the reason that you dont get
letters from me is that there was
two weaks while we was gone to
Jackson that we could not send
letters I knowed you would be unea
sy a bout me but I could not help
it I alwais an swer your letter the
the same day I get them Catharine
dont think that I neglect to write
every chance the boys that is at home
on furlow can tell how we are get
ting a long there has nothing taken
place here since they left all is
quiet and the boys is in fine
sperits there is no talk of us
leaving here soon we have tolerable
warm weather here but not as
hot as I expected to see
[page 2]
I beleive I have saw as hot
days at home as I have here
we hear good nuse from our armies
it is thought that Charleston &
Mobeal will be taken before long
if them places was taken I dont
think we would have to go any
further south some thinks we will
go east when we moove but it is
all guess work with them all for
my part I hope that peace will
be made before fall and we can all
get home I dont see how this war
can last long for the rebs is getting
out of heart the citizens here gets there
grub from our Comissary they have
nothing to live on so we have to feed
them I think as soon as they see
that the people in the north
is not going to fight they will
ask for peace and I am glad
to hear that the north is getting
loyal
[page 3]
you wanted us to send the
letter that James Crawford
sent to us the letter is destroyed
it was a good letter I cant think
of but little that was in it we cant
keep our letters long for we have no
way of carying them I wish I could
keep mine but if I had them all
I would have as many as I could
carry I al ways wear them out reading
them I beleive I have nothing
more to write Dont be uneasy
a bout me this leaves me well
and hearty and I hope it will
find you all well

Hugh Gaston
Catharine Gaston
& Children