burg Va
July the 12th 1863
Kind Wife I will inform you that I am
very well at presant only much fatigued from
a long and werisom march we hav of late been required to
undergo I Received your letter of the [?th] 2 days ago and
of corse was highly delighted to with Reading its content
nothing is more comforting than hearing that all is well
and going on rite at home. we forded the Potomac River
going to Maryland on the 18th of June at the shepardstown
marched through Maryland and Into Pensylvania passing
through Greencastle [McC??]burg, chambersburg & [carlisle?]
whene we ware orderd back to gettysburg 14 miles out of
chambersburg where we fought a teribel Battel it lasting
three days commencing July the 1st and closed the third
we wear not ingaged until the 2 day and late in the
afternoon at this place my brother was mortally wounded
and died the 3rd about 2 oclock PM he was wounded in
the head by a minney ball he Suffered a day before
dying but sence he is ded I beleav he is happy and no doubt
Hes better of then any of us. our Regt lost [??] killed
and [14?] wounded. 2 others of my company was killed [?]
[??] wounded both our army and the federals Suffe
very much though we fell back we Did not
hav to Run we come across the River at Williamsport
on the 14th and ar now on virginian Soil again
and moving South We will probly Remain in the
[???] the Remainder of the Summer
[page 2]
I will not attempt to giv you a full account of our
March and hardships in the presant campaign I can
only assure you we ar living the worst life men ever
[lived?] our rations ar Short and our Duty hard.
our Brigade had to waid the River where it was over [?]
[bank?] Deep and many [others likewise?] but most of
[???] troop crossed in Pontoon Bridges 4 miles long
across. the weather has bin quite wet Since we left
Winchester Va and consiquintly kept the River
very full. I am now orderd to pack up to
march and am obliged to close. Direct to
Richmind Va giv my love to all my friends
and except the Best wishes of [your?] loveing husband
John Futch