Greenville May 14 1863
My Dear Sister
I receaved your
welcomed letter yesterday & was
glad to heare frome you all
but was sorry to heare that
Dump was sick I have just
receaved the letter you sent
by Mr Harris & the chicken
& light bread you sent me
I was very oblige to
you for it you could not of sent
it in a better time it is
the first flour bread that I
have eat in a long time flour
is seling heare at 50 cts per pound
Tell Dump the captin
says there is onley fore men
[page 2]
Now in the companey to go
home that has never been &
then he going to commence
at the married men & send
them first that has sick
familey so I think I will
get a furlough when Dr Pease
gets back I do not want to
leave with out abscence if I
can a void it for I know if
I were to do it I could not
enjoy my self at all for I do
not want to do any thing that
would rest on Seaf when I
am dead & gorn tell Dump
I will write to her by Mr
Harriss when he comes here
I have some more cloarthing
[page 3]
To send by him we have
drawn our cloathing & they are
making out the pay role to pay
ous our money we will get
a furlough soon I will come
by Rocky Mount & bring you
all some cotten tell Seaf he
did not thank me for the blanket
that I sent to him tell him
he must have some fryed chicken
for me when I come home
I suppose you all have herd of
the great battle that was fought
at Fedrixburg [1] we lost the 
best generel we had in the field
that mighty Stonewall
Jackson he was killed by
[page 4]
Our own men while attempt
ing to get in the rear of the
yankeys I under stand they are
reinforseing on bourth sids a gain
I exspect to fight there again
in a few days our regiment
is station heare to stay some
time I do not think ther is any
schance for a fight any whare
down heare the yankeys seem
all to be moving on to VA
Tell Dump not to get out of
heart I hope I will get home
soon tell her she must get her
some brandy to make bitters
get it I do not care what it
cost you give my love to all
I remain your affectionate
Brother J. A. Patton