July 31st 1863
camp near Madison court House va
Dear Wife
I seat my self to drop you
a few lines which will inform
you that I am will and I hope
these few lines will reach you safe
and finde you enjoying good
health I have not had any letter
from you in a good while But I reckon
it is owing to our Marching we do not get
the mail only once in a great while
we are on our way Towards Richmond
But I do not know whether we will
go there or not But hope we will
I would like to come home But
I do not know when I will get
the chance to come again But I
am going to come before long if
I have to Runaway to do it I have
no newse of any importance to
write to you only times are very
hard here I want you to write to
me as soon as you get this and
give me all the newse and let
me know how crops are in
the neighborhood and let me
know how the times is in
old Hanover for I want to be
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there so Bad I can taste it
we do not get enough to eat up here
and the way we make the
chickens and ducks walk is
a caution to what is left be hinde
I am at very great loss since the
Death of charley I am so lonesome
I do not know what to do.
I believe I have wrote all I can
write for this time I will
close hoping to hear from you
soon I remain your Devoted
Husband until Death
John Futch

Dear Mother
I will say a few
words to you as I have a few lines
left I am well and I hope these
few lines will reach you the
same I have no newse of any
interest to write to you at present
I want you to write to me as
soon as you get this and let
me hear from you I would like to
see you but I do not know when I
will get the chance to come home
so I will close John Futch