Union County Tenn
August 15th 1862

My Dear and effection Wife I onst more seat myself with my pen in hand to Right you a few lines witch will inform you of my helth and our march and so am I sorry to inform that I am not Well nor has not bin for three weeks. We started on a march from Knoxville to Cumberland Gap. some of the boys Wanted me to go to the hospittal but I could not the thought of going to a hospittle in this part of the country, and I started on with them and gave out and had to get on the bagage wagons. We traveled 24 miles from Knoxville and stopt for some purpose I dont kno what. We are hear among the rocks and mountains without any tents. I have the gandis (?jaundice?) and the fever. I taken some physic last evening and hope I will get better but it is raining now. it is a bad chance to mend whear the is no shelter.

Wife I expect you have more war news than I do. I understand that they are fighting at the Gap every day or two. If they are going fight it out I wish they would get about it and be done with it for I cant stand this camp life mutch longer and the boys says that a man can’t get a discharg until he is dead three days and rained on. But if I don’t get beter shortly I will intend to try the Pragie (?purge?) any how.

Effie I will right to you evry to you chance I get evry time we move for I know where you are cins you dont no wheare I am. I heard from John (possibly his brother John W. Cowart) the other day he is fat and harty as he evry was in his life. Andrew Pew was at our camps. Effie the mail is about start off and I close mabe by the Next time I right I will have pleasure of reading a leter from your hands and then I think my health will improve and I am shore I could right a more aproprete letter. Is some thing strange to me that I cant get any Letter by mail but we are geting now whereas thear is no mail. Effie this is the gratest fruit country I ever saw peaches and apples in abundance but they are later than they are in Alabama. When I look around at this country it minds me of what I heard the McLeans talk about. I must close. May the Lord be with and remain with you the Dear Little Babs is the Prays of a unworthy father and husband. Good By Dear Wife.

J. A. Cowart