July the 23 1861

 

Mr       Decature         Decatar Ga

Dr B. F. Hodnett

Dear Brother I now seat my self answer your letter which I received yesterday and read with much pleasure I am well and fattening every day well Benny when I rote to you before I naglected to tell you when we ware going to leave here I could not tell at that time but we got news to leave the 25^th I suppose that we had 3700 men killed saturday at minasersjunction no other news I believe we are going to richmond first Benny you must write to susan and tell her I shal look from her when I rite again well Benny/I must Bring these lines to aclose you must excuse my lines as I have no ink and in a hurry nothing more at present only I remain your Brother till Death John W. Hodnett

 

Post. Tell John Moore to tell his mother I that not to send the clos that he I rote for now we are a going to leave tell mary to write and all of them to rite to me that ambrotype I sent to her was a verry sorry one it was the best I could do

                                                nothing more

                                                            John W. Hodnett

 

[envelope postmarked the 25^th to Dr. B. F. Hodnett/Longcane            Troup county  Ga/

Politeness of Lut Kidd/Evans guards]

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