Stanton Va              June  the 16^th 1862

 

                        Dear sister

I seat my self to write you a few lines that will in form you all we are well and Doing well at present we left savannah last saturday was a week we arrived here this ivening we expected to go to Richmond but we never got any further than peters Burg then we were ordered to Lynch Burg and then here I cant tell how long we will stay here as soon as we can get wagons we will leave for Jackson we are in 24 miles of him now Mary I think we will soon bee in Mariland then we will carry the war home to them we will Distroy evry city we come to often Jackson is fighting evry Day or two though they are two large forces after him well to change the subject we have not heard any news since we left I hope I will have some next time I write well it is getting Dark now I will have to quit soon well Mary want to hear what sis said when she saw that piece if it is a secrete you can seal it in a to its self be sure to tell me you said some thing now I want to hav it you said you would tell me when I come home but I had rather hear now what it is especially if it is any/thing good I hope it is nothing bad you may give her my best respects and all the girls of my acquaintance and tell them I am clost to the yankeys a gain and will be sure to have to fight them now we will meet them on the land here it wont bee on water

 

Mary I have seen more wounded men for the last 3 or 4 Days than I ever saw in all my life be fore Mary I Dont know what to write to you this morning I am on guard to Day Mary they say we wont get to write often though you must write as often as you can to us I expect we will leave here to morrow for Jackson I think we will have a fine time in the mountains this year we wont have to retreat as much as we Did last year though we will have to fight lots I hope we may fight our way to new york and philadelphia and back again and I Dont care where else we go so so we whip the yankeys soon for I am geting tired of the war though I am wiling to go any where to whip them I thought I never wanted to come here any more but I am verry well satisfyed here well I must come to a close Direct your letter to santon va Lortons Brigade Jacksons army nothing more give my Love to all the family and receive a Large portion for your self    John W. Hodnett

                                    sam and Brother Jef will write soon

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