April the last 1863

My Dear Wife

I have taken my pen in hand to rite a few lines to my dear to let her now that her dear husbon no that he is quite well as and I hope thaes few lines will find my dear beloved wife quite well to for we have bean on the march ever cence last saturdy after noon and we all have had sore feat but we are a getin over it a gain but my dear beloved wife I must tel you that we have a crost cumberland river now and I had a drinke of water out of it for the

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kiss for you kiss for you

first time but I cant tel how meny more times I shal but I think now we are a goin to put this thing rite throw but my dear beloved wife I dont want to make my love feal bad for wat I have rote in this letter my dear sweat little wife but I must tel you as this if I never should hapen to se my dear eny more I hope that it will be the last time you ever get marred my love but I hope and trust in the lord that I shall se my dear sweat dear wife a gain but it is hard to tel wat we shal do yet but my dear beloved wife I must tel you what I dream a bout the other nite and that was I lad my self down on the ground to sleap and got a thinke about my dear wat I left be hind and I thout that I was at hom and com to the doar and the first thing I new you had got me in your armes and down in a chair and thair is wea I want to get my dear beloved wife for we keep goin along but I dont no wear thay are a goin to tak us to but this is the wildes cintry that I ever got in to but I cant think what the folkes have to live on hear for thear ant eny thing at all for thear is a little weat and but a little but it wold not suite me at all but my dear beloved wife

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summersit till a new address

I must ask you if you got a rasor in my close when you got it but that is the main thing that I want when I com hom but I live in hopes that I shall se my one dear wife a gain and it may be fore long to god bleack your dear hart I do long to se you my dear beloved wife but that is all this time so thear is no more from your dear husbon Stephen Burton good nite may god bleack you and me now and for ever mor amen Summersit kentuckey I carrey your pictur wear ever I go my sweat dear little wife god bleach your dear little hart I wold like to have to sweat kiss from you lipes you are my dear