Co. G. 8th Mich. Vol. Infty.
10 Miles from Richmond
Wensday: June 1st=/64
My Dear Mother
	as this the first day of
June find me still alive and
well I will try to pen you a few
lines again. fur I know you are
}waiting anxiously to hear from
me. at the present time. I received
your kind letter not long since
and was very glad to hear from
home. I thank you for your good
advice in your last letter and
will try to make use of it. for I
do feel a need of religion and
often wish I could enjoy it
but this Army is a hard
place. to live but I shall try
to live as near right as possible

[lit?] others do as they will. I know 
I often get in hard company in
the Army but I always try to shun
such company I do wish we could
have a good Chaplain in our Regt
we have none at all now I have 
not heard a Sermon Preached!
since I left Home. it seems a 
long time! Oh I hope this Cruel
War will soon close and I think
if we are successfull in this
Campaign it will not last
much longer but it is going to
take a long time yet to close
this for if we drive them into
their Fortifycations of Richmond
it will [then?] take time to com-
pleet the thing but it we only can
get them in their works we
can get along with less fighting

for we will come Vicksburgh
[on?] them! but how the thing
will turn out I cannot tell! it
is a hard thing! but I hope
that God will see fit to spare my
life to return Home. I am verry
glad I have a good Praying Mother
at Home who is constantly asking 
God to Protect me. in all danger
and bring me safe Home again
				      ed
I hope her Prayers will be answer^
and. I often try to pray for my-
self. and read my testament,
but we cannot get much time
here to read write or anything
I hope this [buisy?] [time?] will not
last long for I am getting tired
and worn out.

I received a letter from Augustus
yesterday he is getting along verey
well I guess I suppose you have
recd letters from him since he
was wounded. he is in the

Douglas Hospital at Washington
I [had?] heard that he was
wounded for I saw Hiram
Whalen soon after the 6th he
told me Augustus was wounded
I have not heard from those
Boys we lost in the Battle of the 
Wilderness not a word, I am
sorry I wish I could know the
truth about them but if they
are Prisoners we shall hear
from them in time.
	Oh Mother out of four or
five large fine horse [wagan?] loads
of things from the Sanitary and
Christian Commission that have 
followed us on this march this
paper and Envelope is the Only thing
I or any of the Privates have recd
from them but the Officers can 
go at any time and get this bottle
of Wine or Brandy and other little
delicacies so you see what a nice
thing it is. they talk about it at the
North what a fine thing it is ~
Oh yes it is a Big thing for all
Officers! it is an Army Nuicence
I think unless they do

[Written on right side of Scan 4]

more than I have seen them [two words illegible]

P.S.

Sarah I will write to you
Soon Please excuse me
for not writing you a line
in this
	Your Loving
Brother BF Marsh
	in haste

I send in this Augustusis letter as
I have just Answered it. also that
friendly letter from that great (Hon)
Sir) E.F. Holmes 10th Mich Infty
	Tell the folks the worst of the Boys
from F. are all right Billey Cale is at
Fredericksburgh sick. tell Rubes folks [illegible]
is well. and getting along fine give
my Respects to them and all other 
inquiring Friends.
	Be as cheerful as possible Mother
we will hope for the best and trust
the Lord. for our safe keeping
	Your affectionate Son B.F. Marsh

Mrs. H.J. Holmes!!
Fentonville!!
Mich