Cam near Frederic sburg Northen virginia
May the 23 1863
Dear wife I Seat my Self this Evning to let
you know that I am yet in the land of the
living hopeing when those few lines comes
to hand they will find you all in good health
Dear wife I Can inform you that I recivd A
leter from you to day and was glad to hear
from you but was sory to hear that you had not
got a leter from me I rote you four leters Since
the fite And again you herd that I was
kild it was A Mistake it was A nother
Marcus Hefner Dear wife I Can inform you
that I Come throo Safe so far but I cant
Say how long I will be among the living
god only knows Mans days is numberd my
days is loted to Me how and whear and when
I Must close for to nite for if god Spars
Me I will rite you A few more lines in
the Morning Dear wife this this is 24 [??????]
[????????????] that I am in Comin health
This morning I must rite in [a?] hury to Send
My leter buy Robert Su[??]; and I can inform
That we ar A Sending A box of Clothen with
Him to the Catawba Station in Care of
Larence [Agent?] I can inform you that I put
one blanket in and one Cote one flanel shirt
one pare of Mitens two pare of gloves and
some buttons that I got on the battel feald
and one yanky Cap for larrance Dear wife
if you get them I want you to wash them
and Cald [1] them before you use them turn over
[page 2]
Dear wife I can state to you that we have
purty weather at this time we havent had any
rain for Some time I can inform that I Saw
brother franklin and birl Hefner and rufus pope
and many others I rote they was two mile from us
it is only one Mile and A half he was up to
our Camp the other nite we was on picket
last friday and Saterday I Can inform that
our boys and they yankeys swims the river and
and changes papers there was one from our regment
swam the river yesterday and dident come back
he holerd back to take Care of his things and send
them home I can inform that five run Away
from our company Hosia Huffman Milton barns
and Murphy barns Henry flowers john Sheperd
Dear wife I would like to come home the best in
this world but I Cant Come in that Maner if
I cant get home onerabel I Cant get home At
all if the hole army would disert it would be the
best thing that could hapen it is my opinion
after all we must give it up
I must come to A close Soon I Can inform
that there will be A Change in this war
befor long I think it will be Seteld when
the Most of our bodis is Cold I think you
Will get this leter and it May be the last
one that you ever get from me but I hope
I may rite to you A gain I Remian your
Husband til death
Marcus Hefner
to Mrs Kizia Hefner