My Dear Daughter Kathryn,
Congratulations on your Graduation from 12th Grade. I am so pleased of your
intention to become a teacher, although I wish you could use your talents and
knowledge to contrive some sort of "Instant Cold Pack" that I could
carry in my haversack during our campaigns. It would come in so handy during
the heat of the summer. My only relief at present is the powder that your
mother offered me to remove the chafe from the
march.
The fields of summer are crawling with ticks and tiny vermin of all sorts that
love to hitch a ride and feast on rebels, adding to the misery of the
campaigner. Not even the stink of a soldier will keep the pests away. You will
hardly recognize me once I return home, my skin
weathered and darkened so by the effects of spending most of the day in the
sun.
Fortunately, with good planning, hydration is not an issue, and having several
pair of socks so that I can keep my feet dry has come in handy as the evenings
seem to attract thunderstorms lately.
I fear that I may soon be in line for a new set of brogans as my current issue
is wearing thin, the poor soles.
Give my best to those at home, the boys are anxious for a fight and are
chomping at the bit for the opportunity to burn some powder.
Your Loving Father, Corp. James Marshall, CSA
Corp. Jim
Marshall
44th Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Co. C.
The Johnson Guards