the . of
fredericksburg . V . A . this . 14 . feb 1863
My dear Partha I now Seat my
Self this morning to answer
your letter whitch I received
yesterday evening I was glad to hear
from you my dear I am well
at the present time and I hope
my dear when theas few lines
reaches you and my babe they
will find you boath enjoying
good health my dear Partha we
have fine times we play ball
every day my dear wife I hope
you will be Sattisfied in afew
weaks for I have got my type
now but you wont no it when
you get it for I had it tacon
on aranyday and it is as black
as anegro I will Send it to you
the first chance I get my
dear Partha I want you to
tell Annette to quit riting
to Ruth for when
he gets aletter he [blabs?] it
[page 2]
all over Camp and the boys
air always macing fun at
[line unreadable due to fold]
and telling [???] [????] me
and Anday [????] [????] [???]
[??????????] and [????????]
[???] [???] [not?] tell him he told
you for I dont wont the green
[horn?] to get mad at me my
dear Partha I will Send you my
type the first chance I get
Michael Holshouser is getting
a furlow and if he gets it
and gets home I will Send
it with him but my
it is verry dark but
[??????] it will as[swer?] my
dear Partha I have nothing of
importance to rite O how I
wold like to be at home now to
play with my Sweat babe
[page 3]
Afew lines to . Lewis. Lewis I am
now riting to you for the first
time my dear brother I wish
you was out hear to play
ball with me I cold play
with pleasure I must
Soon close for the boys
air going to play now
and they wont me to go
long and I must close by
Saying to you rite Soon
my dear Son fairwell
my brother rite Soon

My dear wife I will
now close fair youwell for
this time I remain your
dear husband untill death
rite Soon my dear and
dont delay
John H Hartman
to his dear wife Partha L Hartman