Mrs. H.J. Holmes
Fentonville
Genesee Co
Mih

			Jackson  Mississippi  July 16th 1863

Dear Mother I recieved your welcome letter of the 27th and
was very glad to hear from you as it is some time since
we have had any mail. for we left our camp near Vicksburg
the night of the fourth for Jackson. after we wer sure
that Vicksburg was ours our Capt was thare and saw the
rebs stack arms so we wer sure that thing was all right. so we
started to Bag old Johnson we came on him here at Jackson
whare we are engageing him with Artilery and Sharp shooters so
our men can get around in rear of him we are bound
to catch him and all his men as nice as we did Old Pemberton
you kneed not feel uneasy about me I am all right and
intend to keep so and you may be sure I shall. you may think
                                                                                              d
I am hard up for papers and so I am this is some I borrowe
of one of the boys this morning. as we left our camp and left our
knapsacks and tents all back I have not had any paper to write
on So you can see how the thing is and not feel uneasy at all. but
Just take things as easy as you can do not work or any one
and get along with as little work for yourself as you can. tell Sarah
if she will take hold and do the work at home and be a good
girl I will make her a nice present next Payday some thing worth
a while but I want to hear that she tries to do right and
then I will do the fair thing by her Oh, I hope when I come
Home I shall find a Sister that I shall feel proud off and can
take comfort in going out in company with how happy I shall
be. if I can only meet such a sister and my Dear Mother
why dont you tell me how you get along for money and things now
at Home perhaps you thing it strange that I sent so little
money Home last Payday but I thought I it would be four
months before we should get paid again and some times
alittle money goes good here and I have enough to last me for
six months if need be but I think we shall be paid
again when our four months are up. do the other Boys send
Home any money now.. Oh as for my boots Mother I am
very glad you did not send them for I do not kneed them
now I had rather they would be thare than here now
for I have got me a good pair of shoes now and the boots
will come so nice when wet weather comes if I am here
but I hope I shall spend the comeing fawl at Home and
thare is a fair prospect of this wars comeing to a
close for the rebs are getting in the tights in all parts
a few more such [illegible] as we got at Vicksburg and
Penselivany will spoil their army and Old Jeff well
either get up and Scadaddle or get his neck pulled

tell me how Freddy gets along if he is a good boy I think
you will tell me he is for I believe he will do all he
can to help you for he is a pretty good boy I guess
Oh you cant guess how tired I am today we have just come off
duty this morning we have ben out to the front on
duty 48. hours. and are all very tired and I hope we will
get a little rest. (yes rest confound it all) here come Orders
for us to fall in line and stand to our Arms until further
orders. a few hours later we are back in camp again we fell
in and started off in great haste went down about a mile
and stayed a little while then turned around and came back
and now we are fixing our camp in the bushes [triming?] out
a fine little grove. it is very warm here but our boys
all stand it well as yet when we wer on the march
there was a number of boys Sun struck some of the 2d Mich
died but as a common thing the boys all stand it well
it is reported    here now that our Army Corps is going back  
to Kentucky or Ohio soon I hope the report is true and I 
think it is for thare is more men here now than they 
can bring rations we have ben living on half rations
now some time but we make a free use of the Cattle and 
sheep Hogs. Hens etc. etc. which are plenty through here
also green corn Potatoes Apples Peaches and all such little
fixings now Mother dont worry about me any for 
I shall look out for No 1 every time. I hope you and
Sarah and Fred will not forget to write for I guess
all the rest of my Carispondance have [Sauced?] on me
as the boys call it when the Girls dont write to them
but I want you to write often and I will I guess
we shall get our knapsacks soon for we have sent
for them then I can write for I have paper and 
things in that. now tell me about all matters in
town next time you write and if you have
got the boots yet    Keep them until we get in
some place where I can get them then I will 
write for them I must close yours in Love
		Mrs. H. J. Holmes		B.F. Marsh