Sunday morning
                                                 1864
Camp Neare Altoona Hill May the 22,
Dear Margaret I Seat my Self
to drop you a line your Kind letter
of the 18th has Just come to hand
I was glad to here from you
and you all well this Leaves
me well hopeing it will find
you all well I cant tell
but I dont think we will
fall back any further untel
we give them fight a
gane Thare was heaving firing
las night in the Direction
of Rome I do hope & trust
we will not hav to fall
back any further for this
army dont leave a thing
behind it the yankeys cant be
no worse you do what think
best but I dont think thare
is any use in mooveing
for the confedracy is gone
[page 2]
gone up I here Prisoners
hoo come through that
where the citizens that stays
at home & dont run off Negras
that the yankeys dont pester
them I dont noe how true
it is but if our Armey passes
through thare will sweep
all you hav got if you
find the Army a comeing
that way Rob all your
Bee Gums for tha will
steel the last one Mr
[?]elmon come to us last night
I wish father had have come
on that Haver Sack woul hav
bin gladly received He could
come a [h???] Back to me
in a day if he comes I wish
you would send my cotten
pants we are the dirtyest
set men you ever saw
[page 3]
it has bin so dusty & we hav
had no time to wash our faces & hands
a clean suit of close would go
well with me now that Flask of
whisky Nixon brought dun me
more good than any whisky ever
I had we have bin resting now
for a day & night but 10 days pased
we have not had 2 hours rest
at a time night nor day our
Genl give us a speech he give
highest prases for out fortitude
vigelence & Bravery Sed Such
men never would be
Subgigated I wrote you about
our fight we was in on the 16th
Mr [?]elmon told me father got
my Gun in Marietta ever thing
was in such confusion I
Exspected it would be lost
it is a yanky Sharpshooters
Gun I Send it to Budey
tell him to take Keare of it
it will last him all his lief
[page 4]
tell him he may let his uncle Joe
have it untel he gets Big a
nuff to use it if the yankys
come through thare
take it off in the woods &
hide it in a holler tree
for if the yankeys was to find it tha
would take it Shore hide your
meet put it where we was
talking about for if the
ynakeys done come & take it
our own people will Leave out
sum for fere tha smell a
mouse margaret take ever
thing in to consideration I Should
not moove a peg do the best
you can for your self I will
do the Same for my self Kiss
papas Little Red Head girl for him
tell Zappa she must be good girl
I Emagine I can see Budey Looking
at his Gun write soon I remain
your affectionet husband
untel death A J White


[added upside down at top of page 2]
Mark ant dead unless he died yesterday