[Bryan served with Thomas Wiley as a private in Co. E, 42nd Georgia Infantry. Wiley's mother and wife were both named Mary.]

1863
vixburg Miss May the 6
Miss Wiley
Dear Madam it is With
a paiful hart that I Drop you
a few lines tho I feal it my
Duty to in form you of the
Death of your husban he Dedparted
this Life on the Morning of the
24 of aprail he Breath his Laste
a Bout day Without a Struggle
he Left us Tomas was a good
Soilger Beloved By all of the comp
ny an the compney feals that thay
hav Lost one of it Most Best men
While you hav Lost a kin[?]d an
ofeconet husban O May god in
his Mercey giv you strenth to Bar
up under Such a Sad disspensation
of his proveictence and may you
Be Resind to his Will Who a
Lone is able to giv you comfort
When the Dark clodes of Sorrow
come an may truste in
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his name for helpe for he is a
Sure help in time of neade an
O May the god of heven Make
Bar his all Mity arm in Up
holding the olde Mother in her
old Edge an Susstain her in
Sad in this her trying houre
May Wee all Remember that
We Muste sone foler and Re
turn to the Duste O May We
Be prepard for that grate
Evente
So I com to a close
By Saying I Remain you
frind
J. M. Bryan
to Mary Wiley