July 8th 1863.
Dear Father,

     Yours of the 7th reached me this evening, and as I had intended writing to you tonight any how, I will endeavor to do so, although it is twelve o'clock. I am sitting up with my sister's youngest child who is very ill. I am rocking the cradle while I write. The poor little babe has suffered greatly; she has remittent fever. The Dr. says she is better today. I am very grateful for your kindness in writing to

me after hearing of that dreadful battle. We have no particulars yet. It is received that several from this neighborhood are wounded, one of Mr. Killian's sons among them, but we do not know that it is true. I am so anxious to hear something about Thomas, yet I trust that he is safe. I know that God had the power to spare him even amongst the thickest of the iron hail on the field of blood & carnage. But I cannot help feeling the

most agonizing suspense as I wait to hear tidings of him, the one dearer to me than my own life. These are trying times, but God will do what is right & best with us all, let us then trust him, & endeavor to walk in his ways. You must not let your mind be too much disturbed on account of your sons. Trust them with God; if it is his will that they should fall, and they are prepared to meet death, the road to heaven is just as short from the

battle field as any where else. I am compelled from the circumstances of my situation to contemplate the probability of a separation from my dear husband, by death. It comes more forcibly to me now than ever. Yet I pray that God will spare him to come back to us safely.
In your former letter, you wrote that I could see you were not tight. Would to God dear father, I might never see you so again. I entreat you for your own sake, for the sake of those who love you, of your sons who are perilling their lives to protect us from a worse than savage foe, for the sake of your own soul to abstain from the intosecating cup. May God help you to do so is my sincere prayer. Please write if you hear from Griffin. And remember as ever you affectionate daughter

Mattie S. Read