July the 16 1863
Jackson mississippi
dear wife onst more with
pleasure I im Brace the
op por tunity of answuring
your vary kind letter
you Rote to mee the 28 of
June I was mitey glad
to hear frum you all onst
more tena I am vary un
well at presant I Cum
vary nie having a Chill
last nite But I am Bet
ter this morning I hav had
my helth vary well
sence we hav Bin hear tell
now I think I will soon
Be well Agane hoping thas
fue lins may find you and
the Children all well
I hav A heep to Rite
But not mutch time to
Rite it to you at presant
[page 2]
we Started down to Big
Black we marcht two days
and parts of nits and we under
stood that vicks Burg
had went up and we got
orders to Return Back to
Jackson and we hav Bin
fiting 8 days the feds tride
to Charg ouer Battirys But
But poar men Cabes Battery
plad on them two fast
tha had to Re treat with
A Rit Smart los tena
the feds was throwing
shels in to Jackson last
Eaving and had sum of the
town on fiar tena I think
we will hav to giv it
up I think we will
Soon Be Clocer to home
I dont think this thing
will last mutch longer
hare Can it I dont See how
[page 3]
tena I send this letter By
Alen fox and A ten dollar
Bill in it and A fine Comb
and Brug A nife tena
Colonel hardey he is in
th Con velsling Camaps
an I hav thair horses
to attend to and I am
with the wagon trane A
Baut 5 mils from whair
thair fiting and I Cant
git to the Regmamant un
less I had A pass or I
wood hav sent you more
money But I will send
you more By the next
one that Cums hom thar
will Be lots that will
Cum home after this
fite Cums off I hate it
vary Bad that I had
[page 4]
no more money with mee
than I did But I had not
under stood that Alen
was A going to leav tell
this fite was over and I
hav Bin so un well Sence
I was not A Ble to Ride
to the Reg mant you may
loock for more in A fue
days I hav got it But I
did not hav it withe mee
my thing is powerful
Scatterd I hav A Box at
montgumery in Alabam and
and them Clos you sent to
mee in it and sevril things
I wanted to send home Blanke
ts an so on I will Rite in
A fue days A gan and more
of it thair no cince in
trying to Rite now may god
Bless you and the Children Rite
to mee my lov wife good By
John W Reese to Cristena V Reese