Letter to his wife while he was stationed in Mobile, Alabama during the Civil War.

Sunday, September 27, 1863 Camp 4 miles from Mobile, Alabama

My Dear Wife, I wrote a letter for Mr. Hickman to take to you but he has not gone yet so I will drop you a few lines more. David B. Wash Waldrop is just back from the battle field at Chattanooga, he brings sad news. The third Tenn is cut up badly 4 of the Lynnville Co is killed. It’s a good company wounded. Carter Davis, Henry Bearden, Sims Sanders and Joe Compton killed. Billy Koker (Coker) Bob Griffis, Nelson Calvert and a great many wounded.

This leaves me still hobbling about with rheumatism. I am afraid that I will not get a furlow but if do not I don’t want you despair for I will do the best I can and I want you to hold up your head and stand square for you may have to struggle on for sometime without my assistance. It will take all my wages to carry me along for everything I buy costs so high. It takes all to buy a little. It was in hopes that Sam Osburn would have got here before this time with a letter from you so that I could answer it by the same hands that takes this. Ann, I would love to see you and those sweet babes of ours mighty well and I hope the time is not far distant when I will but I think now is the darkest of the war. I hope it will not last long from present indications. France will recognize us as independent and the North will be at war with England and France that is if there is any confidence to be placed in the papers if war does break out between the United States and foreign po! wers. The North can’t whip us all and I think she will acknowledge our independence too. However, let us hope so, well Ann I have nothing more of importance to write to you and I expect you will get tired long before you get done reading what I have written.

Ann, you need not pester yourself about clothes for me. I have drawn clothes enough to do me this winter with the exception of socks, but I can make out some how. If you can make out to clothe yourself and children. I think you will do mightily well and if you will only take my advice and move home you will find you can do still better. We may not hear from each other as often as we have been but I am satisfied that you and I will both be better satisfied than we will be if you stay where you are for you can have so many more advantages than you have there and that without paying rent too. Though you know what a nice level place it is, and all the advantages of being on a home of our own without me saying any more. I sorty look for Reece with Sam. I hope he will come, though if I had known last fall what I do know now, I would have joined the Calvary.

You must write to me every chance you get. Direct your letters Quarter Brigade instead of Maxeys. Maxeys is sent to Texas and quarters is put in his place. September 28th as Mr. Waldrop and Hickman leaves this morning. I will finish my letter. I think I will be able to stick around as usual in a few days. Ann you must look over my bad writing for some times I am nervous I can hardly write atall. I have no name yet for that fine son of ours you may name him and I will name the next one. Kiss Ted and Berry for me.

Your affectionate Husband till separated by death Jasper W. Wilson to L. Ann Wilson