Camp near Fredricksburg, VA.
November, 30th 1862

Dear Wife and children an Mother. I once more take the pleasure of riting yo of few lines to let yo now that I am well to day an I do hope when theas lines com to hand tha may find yo na the rest of the Family all well an nabors. I received 2 letter from yo. 1 by H. Williams, one by mail which mad me mity glad to her yo was all well. Yo wanted to now a bout me bein sick. I was very bad off. We left Richmond to march. I kept up with the Brigade a while tel we got to Rapidan Station an thar I was left with our Leutanant. tha was 250 . ...broke down. We rested thar a day. The rest of the Brigad went on. We started to march. I kep up 2 or 3 days an give out. I never was so pore an weak in my life. Guilford and Asa Coker stade with me til we got a past Leas Burge, then they left me there. Then tha went on an I went back to lees Burg. Thar I got with them. I started with [them] tha tuck [took] one rode an we tuck th tuther.

Gilford and Asa went on in to Merlin [Maryland] an got in to the fite. I got with my Leutanant an rested a while an got sum beter and went on in to Merlin. I crost Portomc River one evening an cum back next morning. I . . . .. ... ... Coming. I sen sum hard times sence I sean you. I have had an rosen years [roasting ears] and green apples. Yo don .t know nothing a bout hard times. We have had sum snow har. We come her yesterday was a week ago. We ar camp on one side the Rpperhaanck River an Yankees on the other in site of each other. We wash on one sid of the river an them on the uther. The town is on the river. We went out in town the other nite an stud picket. We stud in town up and down the river. We ar looking for a fite every minit. The folks is all moved out of town. We ar jest watin for them to commence. I got them socks you sent by H. William. I have all of my clos yet. I want yo to send me a cote. Make it like the one I wore her an send me a sheart. Make it colared. I think if I had cote an sheart I cod make out a while. Yo nede not put strip on the pants if you make eny. I don .t ned them now. I .ve got my blankets I got from . . . dove an I have got one of hisen. I have got the ones from Marhter and one he fetch.

Martha Sartain, Lewis was beared as good as cod be exped. I don .t now werher he wanted to be broat home or not. I hant sean tom but once sence Lewis dide. He come to Rigment an stad a while an got bad off an thea sent him of to hospitle . .. He sold all of things. He has got his pocket boke yet an ses he will sent it home. He sold his rasor and nife.

Immelee I dont think hurt of [any] one the way you have manedg. Go a head and do the best yo can. Pay up all my [bills?] as I told you. Pay Matt Griffin $15 an A. rosyton $ 2 I think it is an [all] I owe. Send an . . ..$1. I think pay E. E. Sartain the shop work. Pay as fer as yo can but be shore to keep a nuf for yoself. I am not a ferd but what you will do rit. Mak use of the money jest as yo think best. You mus by . . ... And Pop sumthin with it. Git Mother sum tobaco if she need it. Take good car foot . .. And don .t let . .. on ... I am stil doin the best I can and triin to pray. I wish to be rember in prars of all the nabors. So no morr at present. I Stil remain yo loving husband til death. V. Sartain to Immelee Sartain an children an Mother. Tel Martha, John an William is well.