Letter to Benny Fleet
Green Mount Plantation
Virginia

Cousin Benny,

I trust this letter finds you and your family well. Please pardon the briefness of this correspondence as I am hastily preparing to depart under orders to move westward along the Plank Road a bit in the direction of Kellysville, site of the mortal wounding of our Gallant Pelham at Kelly;s Ford in April.

We have been informed to carry three days rations and 100 rounds or better in our cartridge boxes and haversacks in expectations of a conflict. It appears that many Yankees have left the north side of the Rappahannock in an attempt to cross farther north now that the spring roads have improved. If this is true we expect that this may result in an engagement over several days.

Wish us well. With Jackson at our fore  it is the Yankees who have much to fear.

Here’s to old Virginia, the Old Dominion State, and here’s to our Confederacy. Strong are we, and brave. Like patriots of old we’ll fight, our heritage to save. Rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer.

I must close, hoping that I may write you often until we may return to our home in peace. God grant that it may be so. May the blessing of God rest upon us and bring us together in health is the daily and earnest prayer of each of us in the 44^th.

Affectionately, your cousin

Corp. James Marshall

Corp. Jim Marshall
44th Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Co. C.
The Johnson Guards