December the 7.1862
Knoxville Tenn
Dier wife I take my pen in
hand to let you no that I am
well at presant and hoping thies
few lines may find you wel
I hav just received your leter
in forming mee that our sweet
little slocum is dead which
giv mee grate troble I was expectin
to hear that he was dead when I
herd fromhim ever sinc I herd
he had the sore thrat I told the
boys that he wold never get wel
Serrpty dont griev for him for it
wont do no good he is gon to rest
bles his sweet little soal he is
gon to heaven to sweet Jesus whar
he wil never suf fer no more
hecan not come to us but we can
go to him sereptia I want you to
prepair to meet me and little slocum
in heaven
[page 2]
I thought wheni left home
I wold see you and little
slocum again but I shal
never see lit ttle slocum no
more hier and I may never se
you hier any more but stil I hope
I wil but if it was gods wil
that I shold not I hope I wil meet
you in heaven whair we shal havto
part no more I hav praid for
you ever since I left home and
all our folks and I want you
all to pray for mee and I wil
not forget you tell father and
mother that mitchel has ben left
our camps two weeks and I hav not
herd fromhim I hav got three
leters for him and sent them on
to him so now more at pesant
only I remain yur affectinate
husband until death DW Reavis
to sereptia revis