April the 22nd 1863
camp near Bristol tennesee
Dear Wife I take my seat to rite
you a few lines to let you
know that I am well at this time
and I hope that this will come safe
to hand and find you well and
doing well I have nothing of importance
to rite to you I got 3 letters from you
since I rote to you in the two last I
learned that you was not well
and that you wanted me to come home
Mary I simpathise with you in your
afflictions and would beglad to be
at home with you to administor
to your wants and need cesities but
I cant come now for there is no chance
now for me to come you must not
think hard of me for not comeing home
your first letter was a pack of fool
ishness and I hope I will never get
sutch a one a gain so I will quit
good bye Jessey Johnson
[page 2]
April the 22nd 1863
Dear Wife I am ashamed to date
this letter because sutch a long
time has past Since I rote before
but I thought better wonse than
never you must look over me for
not riteing no sooner for we
have been bothered with the small
pox and mooving the companies
from place to place we are scatered
worse now than we was at atlanta for
there is no two companies to gether and the
wagoners is to them selves the other day
we heard that the yankees was comeing
on us so they took the guns off and
planted them and stood with their
horses geered 2 days and one night
and we was at the camps with our
mules geered one day and when
we come to find out there was
not a yankee on this side
of the cumberlain mountain
so you see what a fight we had
and no body hurt
[page 3]
I am well at this time only a
sore arm whitch was caused by
being vaxinated
Jack is gone to the hospital be
twen here and noxville tell
to Back her letters to A J
Johnson private in co B at the
Hospital Greenville tenn
to A. J. Johnson private in co
B 9th ga Bat at hospital at
greenville tenn
when I have more time I
will rite a gain
Dave howell is dead
henry is well
I have got 2 from you since
I rote to you last and was
glad to hear that you was
well
you wanted to know what
frank done with his money
I dont know
[page 4]
rite soon quick and often as
you can
and tell Willie paw wants
to see him
there is several cases of small
pox in the Battalion
but dont be uneasy
I must quit
so good bye
J. A McMurtrey