Camp Bathel Tennesee August 23rd 1862  My Dear Son  I thaught I would write you a few lines this time/ you dont know how bat it mate me feal when I heard from your Mother that you are so disobedient and truble to her go away and stay all night/how hard it must be for her a boy going on 11 years old is so much truble/ how happy it would mak me feal if I could here that you was a good Boy and obedient to her/ now too not let me heare any more of your badniss and I heare that you sware when with other Boys/now Willy doo not let me  heare any more of this/ you do not know how bad it makes me feal about you/ now if you want to be a soldier and do something for our country doo all you can for your Mother to make her happy for she has now more then she can doo now to get clothing and fead for you all/ now Willy the next letter I get from home let me here better news of you and you will not  be sory for it and Frank I heare is not a very good Boy/ now I hope I shel not heare any thing bad about him and Liszy also 
        I know nothing more to write at pressent only my prayer is that God may fless you all and make you kind and obedient Children to your Parents and Frainds is the sinceare prayr of your Affectinate Father  J. G. Burggraf  write to me and tell me how you get along