[This letter was written for William Watkins by John J. Broom, a Franklin County neighbor and fellow private in Co. I, 34th Georgia Infantry.]

vicks burge mississppi march the 4th 1863
dear brother I now take the presant oppertunity
to in form you that I am not vary well
but I am on the mend I have bin bad off
I hav bin in the hourse pittle for a bout
three weeks I have got so I can go backerds
and foreds from the horse pittle to the companey
I hope theis few lines ma find you all well
and douing well I want to sea you all
mity bad but the times wont admit of it
at this time I want to hear from you all the
worst in the world I have not heard from you
cents the captin come from thar I want you to
right whether you ever got any letters from me
or not I have rote a bout a dozen cents I have
bin hear and at Jackson and has never got
a letter I want you to right quick as you get
this I hav bin looking for a letter for a bout two
months I have not mutch to right only we
can sea the yankeys gun boats in sight evry
day tha bum the town some times hour
men brung in one hundred and fifty prisners
last night we get the worse far[e] hear we
ever got at any place yet we get a little
corce corn meal and pore beef and molasees
and some peas and some rice a bout half anuf
of all we hav the worst wauter I ever
saw we want to leav hear the worst in the world
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we dont no when we will leav I hear no
talk ov it I had druther be back in tenissee
than to be hear I am in hops we will get
back thar be for long if you have any chanc
I want you to send me somthing that I can
eat and a plenty ov it and right me all
the good nuse you can right whether all the
men is gon up to fourty [1] or not I want to
no whether you wil hav to go to the war or
not I want to no whether you ar a going
to ceap mi mar[e] or not I hav rote two letters
to you to no whether you wood take hur or not
I want to no quick right cone [2] I want
to be at home the worst in the world and take
breakfast with you I cold eat one of the
bigest baits you evry saw I must close
for this time I remain your affectionate
brother un til death William R wadkins

Send word to cassea that I
am well as common
John J Broom