Camp Forney, November 1862 was at the top of the letter

State of Mississippi Meridian, December 8, 1863 was further down on the page.

Dear Wife and Children:
I sit myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at time and hope to find you the same.  Elizabeth, ---------------- hard times for the ------------------ to take the --------------------and all and not much of that  and about a pound of beef a day to a man and hit so pore the -------------------- still to the pot and we can't hardly -------------------------- Elizabeth expect --------------------------- to war before long.  We don't know where we will to the ------- we ---------------- drop our guns --------------- then and started to --------------- and we don't know where -----------------------.
I received your letter of 12 of December and -------------------- and glad to hear from you and you wrote to me to come home at ------------------.
but can't come without -------------- comes to ---------------- I want you to content yourself the next year cause if I am fat and hardy and way 174 pounds and fee stout I am still -------------------------- in the name of my Lord and -------------------- didn't you.  For the Lord God is the maker of all things and I think I will go there and come home safe if I never see you no more on earth hope to meet you in heaven before parting -------------------------------.
hoping to hear from you soon.

This letter was badly water marked and we couldn't make out much of it.  He sounds so pitiful.
Submitted by Robert Lecil Cheatwood