[Written upside down on top of Scan 1]

I think I shall send my money as
you spoke of a little at a time I [didt?]
send much home last pay day but
I have a plenty with me now and
shall send more next time

	Camp in rear of Vicksburg
	at Flowerdale Mississippi
		       July 4th 1863

		Dear Mother I am
   happy to say this 4th day
of July finds me in good
    health and Spirits I recd 
two letters from you a few
days ago which did me a great
deal of good for it had
ben some three weeks since I
had heard from you and
I was getting lonesome but
they cheered me up greatly Oh
I hope it never will be so long
again without my getting some
letters for every day seemed
like a week. and I had 

almost made up my mind to not
write any more to any one
but I if a letter does you as
much good as one does me I will
write to you. and I hope you
will write often for you and
Sarah are about the only ones
that do write to me now. for
I guess all the rest of the folks
have forgotten me. but I do
hope you will not. for I want
as much as two to write to
perhaps some think I dont write 
as often as I might but they
little know how things are here
one cant sit down and write
just when he pleases as he can
at home for we are on duty
quite often and evenings we
have to put out all lights
at eight Oclock so we cant write
in the evening and when we
do write we have to sit

down and write on our knee
or lie dow and use the ground 
for a desk. which is a hard
way to write. well Mother I sup-
pose you would like to know
how I like Mississippi well
I can tell you I dont like it
atall as far as I have seen any
of it yet I would not live 
here if they would give me
the best farm of two thousand
Acars of land thare is in
this [part?]. for it is very ruff
land and to hot for any thing
to live in comfort it is
very warm here now this is
far the warmest fourth I
ever saw. and the stillest so
far even the Old guns at 
Vicksburg. are silent So far
this morning. thare has at only
three guns ben fired so far
this morning and it is

about nine Oclock. and thare
was no fireing last evening
whare they generally keep it
up all night. well I hard
   hardly know how to pass
my fourth but I guess I will
write it away and give all
my old friends a letter and see
if they will answer them and
if they dont I shall stop writing
to them. I thought I would
go and pick Blackberries but
it is so warm I had rather
   keep in the shade so I will
   write. I am glad to hear you
get along as well as you do at
Home Dear Mother dont work to hard
if the garden gets weedy hire some
one to tend it for you next
time you write Please tell me
what those boats cost and what
the charges was on the box for I
expect it will be some time
before I shall get them. now be
of good cheer Mother for I am doing 
well write often yours with Love
from your Son
		    B.F. Marsh