Cold Water Depot – April 14th /63
				Dr. D.H. Lewis
	Dear old Friend    Received your very
kind and welcom letter it was writen
January the 23ird it was a long time on the
Road but none the less welcom when it did
come  I was very glad to hear from you
I am in the Desoto Rangers mounted on
a good horse and ready to give the Yankees Hell
When they come out from Memphis_ I have
Applied for a trans fur to this Company
I Saw Lt. Col John Mc [Guirk?] hear
yesterday he is Chief of this Cavalry he
wrote a Letter Col [illegible letter] W. F. Holder
conserning my transfer he says I shall
Stay hear if I wish he seemed to be glad
to see me he Came in to my tent and
stayed two hours the Letter he rote and
the Certificate I have from the Surgeon
Will Accompany this_ I could be regular
Discharged if I would go to Jackson but
I don't wish a discharg I feel it my
duty to do all I can for my Country___
Hell [illegible] __ I am going to Unite
               u
my Effor^ts – with one of the pretiest and

Most Intelligent Ladys in Desoto [Co?]
She is of the French decent was borne
in france She is a Regular gradguate
from the highest Schools she speakes
three difirent Languages Destinct
She is now teaching School at or
near [Milt?] . Lanes she is boarding
at Ms Lanes the Marieg will take
place the 19th of May if nothing
happens more than I know at present
oh Dr I wish you was here to see me
Maried-  Sam Lane & Miss Mollie Powell
will wait on us if Sam can get a furlough
Dr come home and [illegible] it is the eaeset
thing to mary know you can get pick
and choise of the girls I could of marie
fourty times since I have been at home
if I would just pitched in________
I got a letter from Miss Mandy Harris
the other day she was well and said
She had not forgoten me yet but I have
Played out in this neighborhood with
the girls for they all know I am Engaged
to be maried and they say they that
my day with them has passed
When I first Come home it was
Mr Lively but now it is John
you must Excus Capital Letters [illegible mark]

Doct – I wish you could be hear thee 19th of May
I have had the best time with the girls you
ever heard of Miss [illegible] Blassingame
Passed hear Yesterday going home from Milts
she is a nice girle. I have had the honor
of her acquaintence. I invited her to my
wedding I give Miss Mollie. J. Powell
your Respects as you Requested me
to do and she Autherized me to return
the compliment_  it is Generaly bleived 
that her and Sam Lane will marry
infact they are Engaged but dont you
write back that I said so it cause hard
feelings and they are both Particular
friends of mine Sam & myself both
belongs to the same company ______________
Dr give my Love to all of the boyes tell
W.m F. Wilson I writen a letter to him
the other day Shake hands with Capt
[illegible] for me Tell him Dr
Williams Sends his Love to him
Dr I heard from your Pares famly
yesterday, they are all well Brother
James is wounded at Vixburg doing
well my love to all nothing more
but your very Obt Servant
and Friend J M Lively [illegible] No. 6
Black hawk___  Direct to Cold Water Depot

[Written upside down on bottom of Scan 4] 

	[Doct?] I will have to [tax?] you
	with the Postage for I have
nothing Less than ten dollars and
no Stamps your Friend John

[End]

[Written sideways in middle of Scan 4]

Rebel letter got on
   my late March
	      [F S C?]

[End]