owing before long [paper hole] want you to not do without [paper hole] that you nedd. your father started to you after that battle in arkansaw but heard you was all gone so he come back he would have started soner but kept waiting to get aletter he was afraid to start for fere some of you would wright to him to bring some thing to you or for fere some of you was cripled and would rite for him to come after you or them and he kept waiting to here till he give out all hopes of hereing so he borowed acaridge and started and [paper hole] aman that you sent the second letter you rote after the battle and he told him that you was all gone that was the first nuse we got that we could rely upon we never got the first letter you rote after the battle for two weeks after that we heard somany differant reports that your father was afraid to start we heard that some man rote to parris for every body to come after there friend for there was somany wounded that they could not take care of them we believed if that was so some of you would rite to let us no and your father would go just as quick as he could have went he still intended to go but you hav got sofar that he will not come unless he heres you are sick or wounded then hewill come just as quick as he can you must be sure to get some boddy to rite if you get so you cant rte to let us know. my eyes are wore this spring than they have been for some time ican hardly see how to rite but iwill do the best ican you can read what you can and have to guess at the rest give my respects to all the boys so iwill come to aclose no more but my love to you

 

your ever dear Mother                                                                       

Martha Youkum

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