Letter

Commodore D. Epps
6th Georgia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
Company F
to his wife Catharine of Union County, Georgia
written August 3, 1862

Direct your letter to Tunnel Hill, Smith's Legion in care of Captain Anderson [of Union County], Camp Smith, Whitfield, GA.
Dear wife, I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at this time and hope these few lines will come safe to your hands and find you and all the rest enjoying the same blessing. I have nothing of importance to write to you. I received your kind letter. I was glad to hear from you all and that you all was well. Catherine, I have a notion to go to Richmond to [join] Huggins Company [Co. K, 23rd GVIR from Union County]. I can get $50 dollars to change with Van Cints' brother and I had rather be in a foot company. I want you and all the rest to write whether you are willing or not.

Catherine, I haven't drawn any bounty yet [$50 for joining Smith’s Legion] and I don't no whether I ever will or not. I don't know when we will leave here. I want you to write to me if you have had any news from Hamp Ridley and what he is doing; whether he is a wagoneer or not. For Cints is a wagoneer and I aim to have his place if I go [wagoneers were paid $1.00 more a month than cavalry privates].

Catherine, you wrote to me to write to you about managing. You know best now. Do the best you can to make something to eat and if I can help you I will do it. I don't know when I shall get any money but when I do you shall have part of it if I live Catherine, if you can get anybody to come in my place on reasonable terms, do it. Tell mother and all the rest to write to me. I want to hear from you often. They was 3 men went home the other day to get substitutes in their place. Manuel McCoy went home to get him a substitute. If you get anybody, you come with them to the camps. I would like to to see you if I could.

I had a smothering [respiratory or cardiac ailment] this day was was 2 weeks ago and I thought I would die but I sent for [?] and he eased me. I am well as common now. If you want to come to see me you can come to your daddy's and I will try to get 4 or 5 furloughs and come up there, If you want to come. start a letter from there and tell me when you will be there to a day, If you want to come you had better be in a hurry. Tell all my friends to write to me. Catherine, do the best you can. I must close, nothing more at present. Only remains yours truly until death God bless you. ........
Send me some of your hair

Epps was mortally wounded at Chickamauga.