the.18.of.July [1863]
Camp . near . Bunkers hill . V. A
Camp near
My dear wife I now Seat my Self
to answer your cind letter that I
received last night I was verry glad
to hear from you and to hear that you
was well my dear I am also well at
present only the bowel complaint
my dear we ware all through pensalvania
and maryland and air now back in old
V. A again my dear we had hard times
we had ahard fight at gettys burg
pensylvania we whipt the yankeys
by ahevy loss we lost two men
cild and Severl wonded out of
our compny . Henry . Ones and
William. W. Hofner. they ware
boath cild at the gun I belong to
my dear it was the hotest place
I ever was into in my life
the Shot and Shell fil As thick as hail
[page 2]
my dear wife I Suppose the yanks
has posseshion of wicksburg my
dear if they have we air whipt
I have lost all hops of the wars
ever enden until we air whipt
my dear wife I am glad to hear that
yews has good crops at hom I think
we began to need it for we dont
draw but one rasions Sometimes
for Six days we all but perish
my dear you speak of hard
times at home but if you wold
not get no more to eat then
I do then you wold Se hard
times I hope you air fairing
better then I am if you hant I call it
hard times nothing more at present
rite Soon John H Hartman
to Partha L Hartman
[written in top margin of the page]
back your letters as usual