November the 16th 1863
my affectionate companion
I take my seat to try to rite you
a few lines to let you know
that I am well at this time
and I hope that this will
come to hand in due time and
find you and the little ones
all well and doing well
you must look over my cear
lessness a bout not riteing
to you no sooner than I have
I will tell you my excuse
and you can look over my
negligence if you please
we have been marching nearly
all of this month we left
our old camps near cattanooga
and come by chickamauga
station and then from there
to tiners station on the road
from clearelon to chattanooga
and there we left the cannons
and took the wagons and horses
and come to sweet water
by land and they brought
the cannons on the cars
[page 2]
at sweet water they took
the cannons off the cars
and we have marched through
the country round and about
this way and that way
til we have got to lowden
on yesterday our cannons
crossed the river on a pontoon
bridge and the wagons is left
on this side of the river
general whealers caveldry
fought the yankees yesday
and drove them back three
miles and general long
street has been sending over
reinforcements all the time
since yesterday morning
this morning they commence
the fight a gain I can hear
the cannons all the time
what will be done I cant
tell but I hope our men
will gain the day
I hope that this war
will soon come to a close
in some way or other
[page 3]
I weigh 160 pounds
I want to know how mutch
you and Willie and little
calla weighs
I want to know where Mr
cannon lives and what he
is doing
I want to know how mutch
wheat William sowed for
you and how mutch your
father sowed
you rote that your father
and Mother had been to see
the boys you may tel
them that I think that they
might have come on to see me
if they had have wanted
to do so tel them that
when I come home that
I intend to come to see them
if they wont come to see me
Direct your to the same
as before only to lowden
instead of chickamauga
rite soon as you
get this if you please
[page 4]
I hope that we will whip
the yankees and go to knoxville
and go in winter quarters
at knoxville if we do I
intend to try to get to
come home a crismas if I
can and if I cant get to
come I want you to come
to see if you can rite
and let me know what
you think a bout it
rite soon
I must quit
J. A Mc
Murtrey