Franklin Tenn
                  July the 11th 1863
Dear Father  I have Seat
my Self for the purpose
to write to you a few lines
informing you that I am
Still on the land of the liveing
yet and in good health
Dear father we are much
rejoisted of the fall of
Vicksburg  General Grant
has taken Sixty Cannon
and twenty thousand
Prisoners at that place
General Mead has taken
thirty five thousand in Pens
ulvana  Lee Army is Compl
eetly cut up  Brag Army
is demoralized  there was
two hundred of them desert
ed and join Rosecrans
Army.  the news is favor
able.  our Army is in good
Spirits  we have Shelbaville
and Talahoma  we have
the Rebels pretty well drove
out of Tennessee and I
think we will have Richm
ond before we stop  well father
I am Sorry to hear that
Morgan is in Indiana with
his Army but I hope it
will waken up some those
Butternuts.  I hope he will
never get out as well as
he got in  this war never
will end till there is a
Battle or two faught in
Old Indiana  the news is he
has Burnt one Town a
long the Ohio River and is
on his way to Madison
well father I think we will be at
home next Christmas for
this war is getting Brighter
ever day and a working
in our favor.  I dont think
it will last long  well
father as it is harvest time
I guess you are Buisy now
I have sent twenty five Dollars
to you by Capt Reader a
month a go and have
not herd from it Sence
but I hope it has got
threw Safe  there is Some
talk of drawing our pay
a gain Soon father  I have
not herd from John Sence
long in March last I
Suppose he was in the
Battle at Vicksburg
I would like to hear from
him verry much.
I dont know the reason
why he dont write it has
been verry warm and foggy
here for Severl days and a
heepe of rain  well I must
Close my Letter for
presant time hopeing to
hear from you Soon
So fare you well.
                  Wm. J. Andrews
the 85th Regiment is at
Merfreburrow  you will
have to direct your Letter
to the Siege Battery
Franklin Tennessee
         Wm. J. Andrews