Camp near gordonville

                                                                      July the 28^th 1862

 

                                                                                    Mr William H. H. Hodnett

Dear Brother I seat my self this morning to Drop you a few lines which will in form you all I am well at this time I left staunton yesterday morning sam was mending he had the Jaundice but I think he will bee up in a few Days now Brother Jef tip and Joe are well tip is weak yet well henry I have no news of importance to write to you we are campt now I cant tell how long we will stay here they seam to think we will leave here in a Day or two any how it is said they are 40,000 yankeys/in 10 or 15 miles from us but that Dont scare us at al if they will come up to see us we will give them a pretty good round with a bout 20,000 men it is said Jackson is waiting for reinforcements before he goes on in the valey as for my self I Dont think the fighting is nearly Done the war is Depending on foreign countrys now for the settlement of the war or at least they will have a han in it in some way or an other to settle the war I cant tell how yet it will bee no person can tell yet how it will be but it will certainly end in our favour when it Does end or we will fight as long as we can raise an army to fight we can Do/that some time yet well to change the subject I have been thinking a bout Joining the Regulars for three years they give 90 Days furlowe and 100 Dollars bounty and 21 Dollars a month I have not Decided yet what I shal Do yet but I recon it is a little Doubtful a bout it now

 

well henry I want you to write to me as soon as you get this and give me all the news generally give all the girls my respects I have been un well ever since the fight at Richmond and I couldent write any thing hardly at least I Dident feel like writeing I feel better to Day than I have in 3 weeks I think I am geting strait a gain/

 

well my paper is geting short I will have to come to a close tell Mary a letter from her any less than a Day long from her will not Do for I think I am one Dozen a head I havent heard from her since Tom anderson came up well I must come to a close Direct your letter to gordonville va nothing more at present only I remain your Brother till Death give my love to all and receive a portion your self        

                                                                                                                                                                         John W Hodnett

 

Ps I sent some paper to you all by Dr Ridley and Mr Sledg but in the care of Dr Ridley

 

[margin:          I have to frank this I cant get any stamps to go on it]

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