July 12 1864

Camp near Atlanta My Dear beloved
wife I take my pen to drop you a few lines which
will show to you that I am well hoping theas
lines will reach you in due time and find
you in the best of health we are 4 miles
west of Atlanta we are 3 or 4 miles from the
Yankeys I think our confedracy is about
to go up the spout I want to no how
you are gitting along with your crop and
how it looks and how the horses looks
write if little John and John doo is gon
to the war or not I want to no if you
have cou get that lether from him or not
I want you to give me all the nuse you have
Frankey if ther are any pasing ar chance chanc to send
hit I wood be glad for you to send me 5 or 6
twistes of tobaco Frankey you nead not be
uneasy about me I will take car of my
self if I can Frankey I want to no if you have
got corn anuf to do you or not I hant git but too
or three leters from you yit I got a leter
from Pega and hager last nite I wish you
wood rite ofener then you do James and
henry is hear and well James ses he wod
rite but the has no paper tur[n] over [turn the page]
[page 2]
Frankey this part of the cuntrey lokes
like hit was nearly ful of people
but still we hant whipt the yankes yet
I think we will give up Atlanta
with out much of afite Frankey I want
to sea you the worst I ever did
in my lif I cant tell you how bad I
want to see you Frankey I want you
to pray to your god that I may return home
safe and you all well I think hit is the
duty of evry body to look to ther god for
help Tomas I want you to do the
best you can and mind Frankey what she
ses Frankey you mus give me all the nuse
rite to me if you are don work
Frankey tell [?]White and Pri[del?] to
rite to me James Pursell told me he say [1]
Chesh three or fore days ago he was well
Frankey there are atalk that the
male will be s[t]opt I dont think hit
will if you quit gittin leters from
us you may no the reson of hit
rite so[o]n and often Sow I will close
I remeaine your truland husban untell
death James Watkins to Frankey Wadkins