Bivouac at the U.S. ford
May the 14th 1863
kinde wife. with Regret I learn
from your favour of the night of
the 9th that you ar and hav bind
Somewhat Sick Since your late
arival at home. your letter
was very Statisfactory It informs
me that you ar quite uneasy
about me &c this of corse I know
is a natural thing to all persons
Situated as you now ar. but I
Do not want you to be uneasy
about me if you can help it
This will inform you that I
Did not finde the Rgt at camp
when I got back from the Depot
The Regt had gon to Hameltons
Crosing where I got with them the
next eavening and Stade thair
all night, and went the nxt
[page 2]
Day for the Battel field at
Chancellors ville where we
arived on Saturday the 2nd at
3 oclock PM and went at once
Into the fight which continued
until Sunday night but luckily
I Did not get hirt. our company
lost 6 killd and & 14 wounded. our
captain was killed ond Sunday
morning while charging a
Strong fortification of the enemys
I am now quite
well except fateagud from our
hard march and lying ot with
out Suficient Seleep.
Times ar very hard with us
now. our Rations ar Short &
come Seldom. one lb of flour
¼ lb of meat ar our entire
suport for a day. I and Charley
boath lost our knapsacks the
[page 3]
first eavnings fight and all we
had in them but Still I can make
out yet pritty well as the weather
is warm. and we will be constantly
on the march and a lite gose
much the best. Martha I do not
Supose that we will Stay hear long
but I Do not know where where
we will go to. Some Say we will
go In to the valeys of virginia again,
while others say we will go to
Druries Bluff. But I cant giv
any eydies myself when or where
we will go. you I know have heard
of the Deth of our old General
Thomas J. Jackson he was mortaly
wounded Sunday morning before
Day. his Deth is a grate loss to our
army and country. he Died on
the tenth of this month at a
quarter past 3 PM
[page 4]
Well Marth I will close my short
letter as I am going to write your
father a fiw lines unde this you must
write when you can and except
my love and Regard
for your well fair John Futch

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Mr Martin Ramsey Dear sir
I can only write you a few words
now for I lost all my paper in the
recent fight and this is some I
took from the yankes I am now
very well & hop this may finde
you likwise. I Trust this war
will soon end and all go home
again. Giv my love to all the
family and Retain the Same
for yourself. write often & I will
Do the Same pleas excuse brevity
your Dutiful Son John Futch