U.S. Ford Va May 20 1863
Dear Wife I received your kind letter
the 15th & I Was glad to hear from
you this leaves me well & I hope these
few lines may reach and find you the
same Blessing Martha I will inform
you that I have Been in a very hard
fight since you left But thank the
Lord I am yet speard I was not
hurt our Regiment cominced fighting
on Saturday Evening a Bout 4 oclock and
fought until 8 that night & then we
commeced a gain on Sunday morning
a Bout 7 o,clock & fought until ten
or a 11 OClock that day and we
drove the Yankees Back and taken
possesion of the Battle field

Martha I have sent you two letters Since
the Battle & this makes the third
one also I have Sent your Mother one
we are yet on picket But we are
Exspecting to leave here Every
day. I was not sick But affer the
fight I was werred and went
to the hospital and remained
there three days & nights then
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I returned Back to my Company
So I have seen a grate eal of truble
Since you left me I want to see
you worse then I Ever did Before
Dear Wife I am glad that you got
Back home safe But I was sorry
to hear that you was sick I
will send your farther some
pouder by R.T. Sanders and
he will leave it with Richard
Savage at Burgaw he will have it to
some I got it of ove the Battle
field I am very glad to hear that
the Beas has swarmed so well you
had Better get your father to
make a shelter over them for
they mought melt down tel

Caroline that I heard R.T. Sanders
say that he saw her husband in
Richmond and he was well & they
were Exspecting to come here to
Fredericks burg I want to come home
very Bad so nothing more at this
time only I remain your
true an affectionate husband
til death write soon John Futch