the
Campnear gordins ville . this . 21 . of Sept 1863
My dear wife I now Seat my Self
to answer your cind letter that
I received afew day ago I was glad
to hear from you but Sorry to hear
that you and my dear babe was Sick
but my dear I hope when theas few
lines comes to your hand will find
you in good health I am in good
health and enjoying the blesings of god
I am Sorry to hear of Synthas death
but my dear we ware all born to die
you Sead you wold like to be hear to
See me baptised yes and I wish you
cold do bin hear I wold like verry
mutch to See you but I hope it
wont be long tel we can meet in
Joy and happness my dear hoods
division has left us and gone
down South we was orderd with
them but we did not get the
chance to go we went tel to richmond
and then turnd back to the wal lies [vallies]
and we air now in camp near gordinsville
when you back your letters Just
back them to James reileys batery
the reason I did not rite eny Sooner
we was marching all the time
[page 2]
My dear wife . I have no news to
rite only . our hole bytalion has
adischarge from dewty for thirty
days . our horses is all broke
down that we cannot travail
and we air at liberty but we
must Stay at camp we have
nothing to do now but hold prayr
meetings and tend to our horses
we get plenty to eat now and
better then we ever got before
My dear I was baptised the 3 day of Sept
I was baptised at fredericksburg
my dear Partha I hope when
I hear from you again you will
be well and harty rite Soon
my dear I must now close
by asking you to rite Soon
John . H . Hartman . to
his . loveing . wife
Partha . L . Hartman