this . the 30
of aug
Camp near . fredericksburg . v A 1863
My dear friends I now Seat my Self to
answer this tureble letter whitch I received
this morning my dear friends it Struck
me as Soon as I Saw the envelops whitch
the letter was in I new thear was
Something to matter O it Struck me
to the midle of my hart I new
the moment I Saw it that Some of
you ware dead and Shore enuff when
I unfolded it thair the pale lines
red that Annette was dead and
buried in the cold and Sylem dust
of the earth O my dear friends how
Sad it maks my pore hart feel that
I cold not be thair and See the departure
of our nearst and dearest friend I
hope my friends that you all wont
greav your Selves about hur for She
is now in heaven and out of all truble
and will be forever blest my dear friend
I am well at present and I hope when
theas few lines comes to your hands will
find you all well my dear friends we
have had meeting hear in camp for
nearly two weaks and it is Still
going on yet every day and night I
am also amorner and have bin for the
last thee or four days and ant through
yet
[page 2]
they have bin Some 8 or 10 profest and
they air twenty Some odd out for morners
and you dear farther in law Sead I Shood tel
Mr. Agner. to Send Annette type I also
told him about it and he Sed he wold
Send it by Calvin . Brown all though
he Sed he wold like verry mutch to
ceap it but he Sed he wold Send it
and you Stated that my dear child was Sick
but I hope and trust in god that when
theas few lines comes to your hand
will find you all in good health
my dear friends I will now close
by asking yews to rite Soon and
oftin rite Soon and let me no how
you air all geting along nothing
more at present rite Soon
John . H Hartman to. Asa . Ribelin