Yorktown Va April 18th 1862
Nare Chespeke Bay
Deare uncle I Recivede your letter in due
Seson I was glad to heare from you To har that you
was all well my helth is been bad for some three
weeks tho it is some better at this time the Retrete
from the Junction was rather harde you want to now
Something of the condition we left the Junction Wa
left it in a bade condition there was a grate distruction
of good the clothing boxes was all broken opin we
lost all of oure foods but what we cood care on
oure backs you may now there was not taken
there was Some of the boys that Started with grate loades
but after travling some to or three miles it commense
raning and the boys commensede Shucking thare
goods Some of them thode thare napsacks a way
it was raning naerley all the time of oure march
we marshede Some Some 43 miles then we took the cars
to Richmand then from there to westpoint then we
got on a boat then Salede off for Yorktown Whare
we are now stationed We ar now in sight of
the Yankees the Monassas armey is now at this
plase we ar now in front of the armey we can
See the Yankees all the time there is six gun
boats lying on the river tha have been firing
in oure camp ever since we have been here
there was three bums thone in oure camp
this morning tho there was no one hurt yet the
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picketts have Shot Several of oure men tha
ar Shooting at one another every day we ar in close
quarters it is only one mile from here to the yankees
camp it is open fields all the way we ar Scarde up
every night Some Times tha come out with thare artilray
every wonce and a while and fire right away and then
brake for the woods this is rether a bad way a living there
is not much chance for sleeping we donte no what
minet we mite get in to a fight the armies is to close
to Stande this way long The northern armey is thot
to be one hunderd and twenty five thousent Strong oures
is thot to be one hunderd thousent I think this is
a nogh to make a harde fight this plase
is well fortifide the fortifications at the Junction [1]
was nothing to compare with these there is some
of the gratest Baterys here that I ever saw Some
of the Battereys is heire that was [??] [???] time
of the Revilution this is the plase whare the
last battle of the Revlutionary war was foght
I hope this may be the last battle we will have
to fight I must bring my letter to a close as
as it is getting darke and nothing to make light
give my respects to all the family my
helth is tolerbale good at this time tho
I am not Stout yet I Remain yours
Please write Soon Jos F. Gibson [2]
To Yorktown Va