Rockingham County Va Camp Near Harrison(burg)
(about Jan. 26, 1864)
My Dear Wife
I Set my self down to answer your kind
and affectionate letter that I received This after noon which gave me great
Pleasure to Hear From you and the children.
& all the neighbours and to hear that they are enjoying good
helth. I am quite well at presant and
hope that when this reaches you it may find you enjoying the same great and
good blesing. I have just finished baking up my rations to move in the morning
verry early. it
seams as if we cant get setted this winter.
we are verry snugly fixed at presant if they would let us stay
hear. but no we must march after the
yankees again down the vally some where or other I now not where. but it is reported that we are going to
Strawsburg but I am in hope we wont go that far. for it is about sixty miles from Harrisonburg to Strawsburg. we are in camp now about five miles from
harrisonburg. I received Fathers letters the 24 and yours the 26 and as we are
going to march in the morning I thought I would penn you a few lines to
night before we leave camp for when we are marching about it is a poor chance
to write. and you can tell Father the
reason that I did not write to him yesterday or to day was that I had sent a
furlough in. and I expected to stard
home some time this week. but this
march will nock me out of coming so soon.
but if I am spard to return back to camp I hope I shall get it then Tell Sissy I am mutch obliged to her for her
preety little book. and tell her I say
that she must be a good little girl like the little girl the book reads
about. & tell Jimmy he must make
haste and learn how to write. so that he can write to his poor papa. I am glad to hear the children have good and
cloths but I am sorry to hear that my sweet little willy is so bad. I expect you have spoilt him. you must tell James Henry for my sake dont
think about marrin while this cruel
war is going on think about makeing some bread for his poor old Farther &
mother and sisters. Tell Father that I will write to him rite soon if I dont get to
come home. tell him I am glad to hear
that he thinks of farming some this year I am in hope the yankees will not disturb
you all this winter I will now close my disinterresting letter by remaining
your True devoted husband untill death. so good my dear wife please write
soon
John W. Watson
Mr Fox & Willy & Jimmy Join
me in love to you and the children & also
to a11 enquiring Friends. give my Father and mother and the famly and to Aunt Susans famly 5 aunt peggy all the boys are well and doing well so goodby
