[It is unclear whether the first two pages of this letter go with the last two pages. There appears to be something missing in between, but they were written about the same time.]

the
Fredericks burg via Feb 15th 1863

My dear Sister I take my
pen in hand to drop you a few lins
in order to let you no that your
kind letter to Brother Highram of
the 6th of this instant has come to
hand though to my Sorrow he was
not hear to read it he is gown from
us never to return eny more he dide
the 11th day of this month and
I hope he is whear Wars and vexations
never will never truble him We miss him
a grait deal in our mess: My dear Sister
I am truly Sorry for you nowing that
you felt him to be neares and deares
to you than eny one else on earth though
My dear Sister you must bar your truble
the best you can he has only paid
the debt that we all have to pay: Sooner
or later & if this War last much longer
thar is sevril of us that will have to
yeald to deths icy hands: I got Cosen
Ben Speir to rite you a letter the 12th of
[page 2]
this month in relation to Brother
Highrams deth & Soposing that you
will See that letter before this one
comes to hand I deam it unnessisary
to rite all the perticulars that was
put in that letter. Brother Highram
was beried the 12th of this month I went
to his grave and saw him put away
We could not git eny plank that wood
do to make a coffin and if wee cold we
could not git eny tools to make it with
we got Som ruf plank and maid a
plank box for him. I desired to
See him put a way in a good coffin
though it was our of my power to have
a coffin maid for him: he was
Beried in clean clothes he had a clean
white Shurt and draws clean pants and
white Socks we buried him in his
uniform coat that he brout from home
he was as natural a corps as I ever Saw
[page 3]
tell John Lester that
I have Sold his clothing that
Hariet brought I Sold his
pants for 8 dollars and a half
I Sold one par of his Socks
for one dollar and the
other par for 95 cence I
was a blidst [1] to Sell them or
throw them a way as I could not toat
them the man that baught the
par of Socks for 95 cence
S[l]iped off and never paid me
for them :: William Sropshier
is going to Start home in the
morning I will Send Highrams
Pockit Book by him with 39
dollars of highrams money. I
will Send Ten dollars to John
Lester & Six dollars to Mr
Nedow Jackson as I Sold Aca [2]
Jacksons Shoos for four dollars
and other things which all a mount
to Six dollars I will Sepper rate
the money and put thar names on it
John T Speir
[page 4]
thar forces to that plase
I am verry Sorry that we have to
turn out and march at this
Season of the year it is 30 miles
from her to Hanover Junction
the ground is verry wet
and muddy hear at this time
the rods is from shoo mouth to
half leg deap and from
that to Wast deep this is the
worst Country for mud that
I have ever Seen I want you
all to rite to me as often as you
can the boyes ar jineraly well
from our Settlement
Harod Hartly was sent to the hospital
this morning he was mending
I must Close nothing more
only I remain your son until
deth J T Speir