Camp Gregg Va
Feb the 20th 1863
My Dear Cousin
It is with pleasure
that I imbrase this opertunity of
writing you a few lines to let
you know that I am in good
health and that the boys in the
37th Regt are generally well; Though
I am sorry to inform you of the
death of Lawson Farmer of Co E and
Marion Turner of our Company
they both died a few days ago
of Pneumonia fever .
I beleave I have no news of
importance to write only that
it is said that the yankees
are all falling back from the
Rappahannock river to wards
Washington City, so I dont think
there is any prospect of a fight
here any time Shortly
We are now encamped near
the Rapahannock river : about
twelve or fourteen miles below
Fredericksburg
[page 2]
There was an order sent round
to all the companies in this Regt
yesterday that all persons absent
from their companies without
leave must report to their respective
Companies by the 10th of March next
and that those that failed to
report by that time will be
Court Martialed and Shot as
deserters, but those who come in
by the 10th of March will not be
punished atall
So I though I would write to you
and apprise you of the order.
So I beleave I have nothing
more of interest to write so
I will close. Please give
my best respects to your wife
and all of Unkles family
Respectfully yours &c
Nathan Horton