May the 19 1863
Camp near fredericsburg northern virginia
Dear wife I now Seat my Self this morning with pleashur
to let you know that I am yet in the land of the
Living I hope and trust when those few lines Comes
to your hand they will find you all in good health
I now can inform you that this is the fourth leter
I rote to you Since the fite I think you have forgoten
Me Dear wife since it is A bisy time I must excuse
you this time I would like to hear from home and
from all the neighbers it would be A hapy time for
Me to be at home to ingoy my Self with you at home
I havent much to rite at this time I can inform
that very Cool wether at this time it was almost
Cold A nuff this morning for frost and the days is
very hot I can inform that it is disageeabel for
Me I have panes in my lims this Morning I
Hop that it wont last long I can inform you
that we havent herd from Levi Isaac yet
I woul like to hear from him whether he is yet
A living I can inform that we have seven in our
Mess at this time Daniel Huffman and joshua
Drum john Simons john Setser Cain bolick and
Wilkey I can inform that we can bake good bread
we have to pay five dolers per pound for Soda
I can inform that we get a half pound of meat
A day now I can inform you that Solders is getting
tird of camp life they ar diserting every day
there was 19 left from the 54 nite before last and
the report is that 7 left the 57 last nite
I think that the most of them will wish they
Had Stade for they will be punished for it
Dear wife I want you to rest Contented I am yet
in hopes I Can Come home Sometime I Stil
live in Hopes Dear wife I want you to take
Care of what you have got I mean to not let it
be Stolen take notice times is hard turn over
[page 2]
Dear wife I Can inform you that I Sent
A bibel and one other book with peter Holer
to you if you did not get them I want you to
get them Some time I forgot one thing I Sent
A fether piler and A galen jug from Salsbery buy
joseph Hufman to you Dear wife I want you to
to Satisfy your riter they cant rite for nothing
These hard times I would like to know whoo
riteing Dear wife you Stated in your
Leter that you was done planting and I am sory
to hear that you have your work to do and mine to
tel Larance and jonus they must be Smart boys
and Help mother I Can inform you that I
herd that the 32 regment had Come to the
Crosen to day one mile from us I Can inform you
that we have Marchin orders I dont know what
its for on less its for a fite I can inform that
we dont never now what those things mean til
we see it you know More about the war than
We do I must come to A close I havant much
news to rite at this time I want you to
rite and tell Me all the news and
tell me how your old Mother is Comeing on
And how my Mother is Coming on and how
they ar all getting A long I do love to hear
from home and from all [?] So no more at
presant only I Remain your husband til
Death Marcus Hefner to Kiza Hefner

I will give you all My best Respect to you
all Dear Wife Dear Mother Dear Sisters
and brothers I Want you to rite to me
So farewell for this time