Shennado Valley Va                                       June the 18^th 1863

 

Mr W^m Hodnett Dear Father it is with Great pleasure that I Seet my Self to drop you a few lines though I hant heard word from you Sence I rote to last though I feel like I must right to you wheth you right to me or not I dont think that I can for get my Parents as long as I live hoe has don So mutch for me these lines will inform you that my health is toable good at this though my feet is verry sore from marching W^m Henry is at Jerden Springs a bout 7 or 8 miles from Winchester was Sent thare yestiddy though not verry bad of but not a able to march his health has bin verry poore ever sence the Frederick fight John F has jest came up/and he Ses that henry Ses that he is a coming up in a few day but I hope that he wont for I now that he hant able to march and the I have told oftain when he got to the Hospital to Say untill he got a ble to march, Samual is with us but he hant well I reckon though it mostly coused from marching though his eys is in a guar fix he he cant See after night but Ses that he can See as well in daytine as ever it looks Strang but I hear of a good may being in that fix the Dr Ses that it is coused by eating one kind of diet all the time well John is righting he gan tell his condishion better than I can J^o Moor is well. to change we are now four miles from Martainburg and a bout eight or nine from the Patomac River/we have pass through a few day a go the bombardment and the whisling of the minet ball and I feel thankful to Say that none of our Company was hurt by them with the exception of Lu Cartright he was hit by a minet ball in the Side but dident inter it is thout if he dont take the Erresiplous in it he will be up in four or five week our loss Ge Ewell ses wont excede thee hundred in kill and wounded and Ses that the Enemy will exced three thousen I surpose he incldes the prisners and kill and wounded I feel thankful that Lord has bin with us well to change I hope that these lines will find you all well as coud be expected which is so great a blessing and my the good Lord be with us all and at last Save us all in/his Kingdom I pray I feel that the Lord has bin with me thus far and I feel that I can trust him for the future though I may never meet you on earth I feel deturm by the Grase of god to meet my Dear Parents in a uper and a beter world I feel that I have tise thare may the Lord God of Heaven and earth bless us all and at las Save us all in his Kingdom is my umble prar. well I recond you wod lik to now whether we was a going in to mayland or not I cant tell but thar is a part of Gen Ewell Core in Mayland now and I think think that we will go thar to. I must close Samuall Ses that he wood right to you but he don’t feel lik it now nothing at present but remane your tru Sun untill

                                                                                                            Death  TJ Hodnett

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