Camp in the Feild

                                                                                    near Culpepper Court house

                                                                                    Va Sep 22^th 1863

 

My Ever Dear Brother & Sister

I will once more write a few lines to you. I received your ever welcome last night and glad was I to hear from you once more, and to hear that you was well and the Baby to, and I hope and pray that you may be prospered to have good health, as that is the greatest blessing we can ask here on this earth. and I have been blessed with that most of the time since I have been out here in the Army, and hope I may be blessed so as long I have to stay here. Well we are getting ready for another tramp. the order came last night for us to be ready for with eight days rations in our knapsack & haversack / we have got our rations and are ready now to start. we may move to day, and we may not, we cant tell. neither do we know where we are going to only suppose we are going to visit the Johneys across the Rappdan. it makes us quite a little load with sixty rounds of Catridges. we cant march verry forst with that load on our backs. but then I am good for that load yet. I dont know what you think about taking eight days rations. all you have to eat for eight days. I suppose you think it is rough but we can do it and I am in hopes we shall clean Lees Army out this fall, and if I fall in the attempt, think you have lost a Brother in a glorious cause and never will it be said of me like George Spring, to run, but then we dont know what the move is untill we do /

 

I have sent for a box, but if we move I shall not get it right a way I unless we move on the line of railroad. Well I should think that James Goold did have a curious wedding and his Father married them to ha ha that was a big thing want it, quite an inteligent pair I must confess. and I dont blame Uncle Elija for booing, I would have made something come, either the cart yoke or spire (but give my best respects to to the old man and I will let him drop) I think the prospect of the war looks verry favorable for us now, and I hope it will end so I can and all of us get home by another summer. the Armys are now most all in active motion and Charlston must soon fall with out any doubt, and then mobile. but I cant stop to write any more at this time, for I must finish / getting ready for to march & you must take this for a letter this time. write often and good long letters and all the news, and I thank you verry much for those stamps for they are a scarc scerse article here.

 

this from your Dear and affectionate Brother Joseph

 

PS give my love to Mr Davis folks and all enquireing friends and kiss the Baby for me

and save a large share of love for yourself & Suly from your Brother

                                                                                                Corp J W Fletcher

To his Brother & Sister Cooledge & Ursula

                                                                                    Fletcher

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