Jackson Misssissippi
May 31th 1863
Dear Father & Mother
after a long
Journey ove about eight hundred miles
I thought I would try to write you
a few lines to let you know where
I am and how I am getting along we have
ben on the cars an bots day and night
ever since the 24 except two night
we got heare yesturday evening we are
in about four miles of Jackson they
have ben fighting Some between Jackson
and vicksburg I exspect we will
have a hard time heare for a while
Joseph E Jonston is in command at
this place I can heare the cannons
firing now I exspect theire will
be a hard fight heare before many
days well I can not tell you any
thing about this cuntery now
[page 2]
only I dont like the watter
I am afeard our men will not
have good helth we have to use
watter out of the pons we may get
to wheare it is better before
many days I recived the letters and
was glad to heare from you all
but sorry to heare that William
was wounded I hope he will
get home soon I have not heared
any thing more from Sam yet well
I will have to quit the sun is
shinning vary hot I have never told
you that we have got a new capt
E M Clayton is is our capt we all
like him vary well write Soon
dirrect to Jackson Miss No
apoligy heare for bad writing
till I get abetter place to write
this leaves me well J B Patton
[in upper margin of page 2]
I will write again as soon as I get time
I can not writ with any since now