Dear wife I Seat my self with pleasure to let you
know that I am yet in the land of the living I can
inform you that we ar now in Maryland We have marched
throo pensylvania we have bin throo yorktown [1] then returnd
for gaters burg [2] and I can inform that the army met there
it was the hardest fite I ever was in we whipt
them the first day and taken the town and hel it til
we left we lost lots of men but nothing like the
yankys lost we have taken lots and Squars of prisners
Dear wife I can inform you that I would like to hear
from you all one time more I want you to rite as
Soon as this Comes to hand and rite me all the
news I Can inform you that we Saw hard times
[page 2]
Dear wife I Can inform that I am well and Daniel
Hufman and joshua Drum has siserted [3] I Can inform
that evry fite he hid and at last diserted from
the regment and also lieutenant Shirrel from Colwell [4]
County Diserted I Can inform that if god Spares
me to come home once more I will regoice in that
time I would like to hear of peace once More
tel larrance and jonas and Jimia I would like to
See them I am So nervous and trimly from
exposher I hope you will excuse me I wont rite
Much at this time I will rite More the next
So nothing more only remain your absent Husband
Marcus Hefner to Kizia Hefner til death
[page 3]
State of Maryland
july the 10 1863
rite as Soon as this Comes to hand I expect to
get back to virginia before long we ar on the way