July 12 1863
camp foster etowah
dear father and mother
brother and sister i the
oportunity to drop you
a few lines thate i am
well i received your
letter dated July 7 was
glad to hear you were
all well i expect we
will leave her before
long will go back to
the bridges brag army
is at chatnoga morgain
started home last friday
i did not know nothing
about it tell he was
gone it rains here might ny
every day the yankees
have vicksburg and are
fighting [at] Jackson mississippi
and charlston i wish
i could get to come home
but there is no chance
[page 2]
you and mother must
come and george we have
good water and i think
w are at a healthy place
i will write in A
da or to and let you
know whether we move
or not i have got more
clothes than i want
i would like to send
my uniform home or
sell it nothing more
at present still remain
your son untill death
Jhon S Agnew

[added at bottom of page in a different hand]
Margaret let me know where John and
Jesse were when your letter was rote and
what day it was rote they say Tom Lyday
and Tom Harris are both killed your
Mother Come over soon