May 12^th 1863            

 

              Dear wife I embrace this opportunity of writing you a few more lines to let you know that I am in tolerable health at this time with the exception of being a little sore in my feet & legs the boys are all well but Ben Scruggs something bit or stung him on the foot last night he walked on it to day & this evning he is pretty bad off we are camped about four miles from Jefferson and will start on again in the morning we will take steamboats at Jefferson there is various reports in camp in regard to the enemy one report says they have Alexandria and another says they are falling back another says that Curby Smith is about to get him cut off from his trains & bag the whole party it is reported this evning again that Cooper has sent for us again & also wrote on to the President to have Stepens & Alexanders regiment & this Squadron sent back to him he claims us as belonging to him and says he intends to have us & Spates is pushing us on a force march to keep us him from getting us I expect if cooper gets us he will have us mounted again but the worst of it would be getting back again our officers are beginning to bear down on us pretty hard I stand marching better than I expected I get mighty tired & sore towards evening roll is called about dark of an evning & half after three in of mornings. 

 

I have not received any news from you since I left home you dont know how anxious I am to hear from you I have sent you $403.00 since I left $200.00 by Sullivan the man I sent my horse by & $203.00 by Hamel & letters by both I have also wrote you a letter since and sent it by mail I have nothing more of interest to write you now I want you to write to me how you are getting along whether Appalonia is staying with you or not if I go on this way I expect to get my clothing from goverment tell the boys howdy for me give love & respects to Jess & family receive a double share to your self. I will write again soon so no more at present but remain your affectionate husband       

                                                                                                             

Thomas W. Johnson

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