On The Way To Gettysburg, Both Sides Think They'll Win

Pennsylvania
June the 28th, 1863

Dear wife I received your kind letters of June 6, 7, and 14 which found me well but along ways from home. I hope those few lines will reach you and family well and doing well. we have been on the march three weeks an now are in the middle of Pennsylvania and our way to boston in the middle of the enimy. the yankees says they will whip us if it take them ten year but we don’t think so

I have nothing of any interest to write now. I suspect it will be two or three month before I can get to write any more. the mail cant go threw this country any more and we don’t know how long we will stay hear. some of us no don’t never will get back to Virginia and just as apt me as any body. this is a hard road to travel. wee have to go threw wet and dry cold and hot and sleep in the mud. there is one thing I regret to write. D. O. Benfetton have deserted us an gon in the mountains. the rest of the boys are all well at this time. I waunt you to do the best you can. you said you had sold the wagon for one hundred and fifteen dollars. you ort to had one hundred and fifty the way things is seling now. but I recon you don rite to sel it for I don’t know when I well ever com back but I hope an trust it waunt be long. God bless you and the children so I will close for this time by saing I remain you loving husband until death.

J. B. Crawford

To Martha A. Crawford

kiss the children for me
tell Jane to write to me
I havnt forgot hear
tel the children to do good

J. B. Crawford

John B. Crawford Papers, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson.