VA
Camp near Culpepper
June the 8 1863
Dear Pappy Ma and Mit
As I have the
opitunity to write you A
few lines in order to
let you know that I
am well and harty and
I hope that when those
few lines reaches you they
may find you all the
same I will tell you
that wee have ben marching
know for four days and
in the time wee sufferd
A great deal on the account
of the dust and for the
want of watter and the
third day wee marched
wee ware stoped to go
back to Fredericksburg
for the yankes ware crossing
thare by thousands but
General A, P,, Hill being
[page 2]
succesful in driving them
back across the river wee
continued our march untill
yesterday evening and
know wee are in Afew
miles of the yankes and
it is repoted that thare
is A large force of them
over the other side of the
river thare is A grand
movement on hand it
is said that wee are going
to get in the rear of the
hold army and try to take
them and I expect that
wee will run them across
the potomac or capsure
them thare will be
something dun before
meny more days
[page 3]
some sais that wee are
going to Marriland again
and to pensilvania wee
may go thare before wee
stop but not untill
wee whip them heare
and so you need not
expect to get letters every
weeak from us untill
wee get dun marching
but you must write
and I will every chance
I can get Brother will
stay here and will at
ient he is well and
also Rial so I will close
my short letter hoping
to here from you in A
short time so nothing
more but remaining
your benevolent son and
Brother J.. F.. Coghill
excuse bad writting and
back your letters Culpeper