State . of . virginia
the 1863
Orange . Corthouse . v. A. this. 11. of . nov
My dear wife I now Seat my Self to
answer your letter whitch I received yester
day evening my dear I was glad to hear
that you was well my dear I can inform
you that I am in good health hoping
when theas few lines comes to your hands
will find you enjoying good health and
allso my dear babe my dear wife you Sead
that aunt . Nansy . was almoste distracted
about uncle . John . I will give you all
the information I can about him he was
tacon prisner in maryland and thats
the last I have heard from him I
have Saw his redgment Severl times
Since we came out of maryland and
Some of the men in the redgment
told me he was tacon prisner him
and . Adam . klutts was boath tacon
together tell aunt Nansy that this
is all the information I can give
her I have never Saw him Since I
left home I wold like to See him the
worst Sort if I cold
[page 2]
My dear wife I Supose you laught
at me about Sending kisses and you
Sead you wonted me to lern you how
I will now tel you how to do it
when you get your letters rote Just
put your mouth on the paper and
then take apensyl and mark round
your mouth and in marking give
the paper asweat kiss and then when
you thake your mouth away thair
will be the kiss thats the way to Send
kisses but I dont Suppose you can do
it with out help you will hafto
get Some person to mark while
you primp your mouth thats a yankey
trick my dear wife I wold Send you
akiss in this letter but as thair is
no one present to help me I cant Send
nary one this time but if . Daniel
was hear I wold get him to mark
while I wold primp as it takes
two to do it Daniel has tacon mine
and his horsees out to the pasture
my dear I will now Stop this part of
the qustion
[page 3]
My dear wife you Sead that Meyetta [1]
cold walk and talk and was now
big anuff to play with yes O how
I wish I cold be thair to play with
the Sweat little darling I hope I will
get to See it before long for as Soon as
we get in winter quarters you Shal
bring it out and Stay about two
munths and then I will give you
Some of them Sweat kisses whitch
you air talking about I will make
you tyred of kisses my dear you can
prepare to come So when ever I rite for
you you will be reddy So be reddy
at my time for I dont Suppose it
will be long eny more til we
Setle Some whare for winter and
So be reddy if I do get the chance
to Send for you you Shant go home
rite Strat like you did when you
come to richmond So prepare for
you and the child So you can Stay
as long as I wont you to and that
will be about two munths
[page 4]
My dear Partha I must now close
for this time by asking you
to rite Soon and rite me all
the news you can and take good
care of your Self So you can come to
See me if I dont get the chance
to come to See you nothing more
at present I remain your truly
be loved husband until death So
rite Soon rite Soon fair you well
my dear wife until I See you
no more at present rite Soon

John . H . Hartman . to . his . dear . wife

Partha . L . Hartman . when this
you See Odear
remember me