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Shanandoah Co, Va
June the 21, 1863

Dear Brother

I take my pen in hand to rite you a few lines to let you now how I am getting a long. I hav bin sick for two weeks and I am geting a bout well except my mouth and throat is so sore that I hardly can eat any thig. I think it comes from cold and exposure. I hope these few lines may find you all well. I have seen the hardest time since I left home that I ever saw in my life our company and Capt. Taylors was sent a cross to Prornliget(?) in xxxx Co to pickett the yanks we towards Windcester. we could see the yankee picketts across the xxx evry day we had to xxx evry other day and night on sunday & night the 7 of June the yankees fired on our picket shot one horse they get one of Taylors men a prisoner and two horses we [...] to meet them we dismounted and formed a line of battle we get news that they was surrounding us we [...] to our regiment on the 11 and found them near Strawsburg I was very sick at that time the doctor sent me to a private house to stay the [...] is nearly all [...] here but the [...] of them is very clever folks [...]

I supose that you have heard of the fight at winchester one of our boys was killed franklin M. alderson, Colonel graham was wounded in the leg lieutenant blankenship wounded in the sholder is all that I have heard of being hurt. I think they was below winchester when they got in a fight our loss was only about one hundred kild and wounded I have not heard the loss of the yankees millroy surrenderd up winchester we got five or six thousand prisoners they are taking them up the rail to Stanton evry day two thousand went up yesterday. Some half naked some barfooted and some bare headed and our men that was garding them looked like they were dead on there feet & millroy got away from winchester but I heard that they captured him below thare and will bring him up to day our regiment went on to maryland and I hear to day that they are in pennsylvania I [...] you two letters since I left home and hav not got the [...] of a pen from russell since I left there [...] glad I could be to here from you all. I want you to rite so soon as you git this & give me all the news direct your letter to mount Jackson Shanandoah Co. Va

I must close nothing more at present but remain yours til Death Charles Kelly John Kelly