May 4^th 1863               Battel ground 5 miles west of Fredricksburgh Virginia

 

My dear wife I take my pen in hast this morning to inform you that I am well and unhurt at present hoping that you my dear Musy has recovered your health and engoying good health dear Musy we broke up camp and marched on the 28^th Aprill crosed the Rappahanack 6 miles below Fredricksburgh was attacted by the rebels in the eving of the first day of this month have been fiting nite and day since yesterday and the day before the battel was dredfull a great many on both sides has been kiled and wounded hier/

 

our Cournal his name is Beaver was wounded very severely and about two hundred of our regement was kiled Cournal M ^Cknite was kiled on yesterday his regement sufferd very severely general Coldwell who Comand this division was kiled The battel Closed on last evening rather advantagly in faver of the rebels The battel will be renewd this morning how it may end god only nows Thy will be several days fiting continualy a head we think we have the rebels surrounded if we can keep the rebels from braking our lines we/may finly whip them out both sides fites despertly write to me as scoon as you receive this letter and let me know how you have got give my love to Mary Oliver and Childrin also to all the rest of my friends My dear Mussy I must close this letter I will write to you shortly again if I live I made some very narrow escapes on yesterday the bullets whised past me within an inch of my body and hed very frequantly on yesterday and day before My dear Mussy I close by sending my affectnate/love to you with 30 sweet kises to you my dear Mussy I remain your affectinate husband untill death god bless you my dear Mussy from your affectinate husband

                                    WRodgers to

                                                Sarah Rodgers

 

when you write direct as before

                                    W. Rodgers

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