Camp Bethel Tennessee Febuary 19th 1863  Dear Eliza  Mr Mathews  William  has just arrived here this evining and I was very glad to here rom you and that you are all well/ I have my health very well/ I would have writen sooner but I have bin wating for Mr Mathews to com before I would write/ I looked for him last Sunday and kapt wating till now, you  must have great times up thair with those Copperheads/ I sopose thay would like to raise an army up thair to help thair leader Jef in his wicked desire to breach up the union/ thay seme to have a great ele simbothy for our soldiers of thair suffering so much for the want  of clothing and somthing to eate, I dont think thair is a man in this incampment that can complain of anything of the kind and the greater porsion of them have it better then when thay ware at home/ thair is not a sincle man wanting for    ay- any thing except it is for to go 
        to Illinois and settle the hash with some of those Copperheads up thair/ I sopose it is a good thing for them to com out as thay doo so we can see where to take them and see who to deel with/ I don   t think thay would like it very much if some of those Illinois Rigements was to  some up thair and comfiscate thair propperty take all thay have away from them and then go to thair Brethern in the South and simposithe with them that is just what aught to be done with them but I always think God will   doo what is best for us and all things turn out for the best in the end if we only will trust in him, I was very much pleased with your pickture/ I was very glad that you sent it/ I wanted to see it very much/ i think it is the best likeness you ever had taken/ I think you have bin getting thin this winter by the looks of your pickture/ I wish I could have the childrens too/ you wrote about that ten dollers in gold whether you should sell it or not/ you can use your own jugment about that/ if you can make  five dollers out of it perhaps you had bether let it and get somthing for the five dollers that you need and kep the other ten 
        if you think that good is going to get much tigher and you nead any thing that you must have you had bether get it while you can/ I thought we would be pait off before this time but the pay master has not com yet but I think he will come before long and then I will send you sum muny the first chance/ so no more at pressent/ give my love to all your affectionate Husband J. G. Burggraf  write soon for I always want to here from you