Camp near fredericsburg Va
December the 18 1862
Dear wife I have taken the
pleasure once more to Seat my
Sealf to drop you A few lines
to let you know that I am
tolerable well at this time
and I hope when these few
lines comes to hand they may fin
you all well Dear wife I can
inform you that we had hard
times at this plase we was
Cald out on the 11 on a line
of batel and on the 13 we
[???????] to the fite and
[i?] Can inform that there [???????]
A hot time we Charged on them
they was in the Railrode dich
and we Run them near A half
A mile and they Reenforst and
[page 2]
we Retreated back to the
railroad dich and I can
inform you that they Shot
at us Some three ours I can
inform you that we had six
wounded and one kild Miles
Drum was Shot in his head
above his tempel and lodged
against the skin on tother side
and I hope to bery him
and the yankeys [??????]
[???] the River [??????]
[????] the dead the yankeys
had five bridges acros this River
Rapper hanick I can say that
I never Saw Such times I can
inform that pery barnes is
kild and Rufus Eckerd is kild
the number of men in our regment
kild and woonded is 123 [1]
[page 3]
I can inform you that I dont
Expect they will fite at this plase
any more for they ar So badley
Whipt the dead yankeys lies
on piles it is Said that
Are going doun the River they
Say they will have Richmond
Stil I can inform that I Saw
Many of my old Aquaintainses
before the fite whether they ar
yet A livin or not I Can not
tel dear wife and children
if its my lot to Escape and
Come home I will do so
and if its gods will it will
be So and you and Me and
Every body must Come to the
Conclusion that the power lies
and is left with god so Live
Contented and dont greave
For Me:
[page 4]
So I Havant Much to Rite
at this time I Received the
Last leter from you the 6 of
this Month and this is the
5 one I rote to you there is
Many things that I would
like to hear you dont Rite
Rite how your neighbers is comi
on and it May be that we
will get Some ferlows when
We take winter quarters but it
Will be A chance Some
Says that the war may last ten
year yet god only nows and now
one else So nothing More at this
time only remain your absente Husband
until death rite as soon as this
Comes to your hand Marcus Hefner
to Kiza Hefner