Camp Bethel Tennesee January 10th 1863  Dear Eliza  I sopose you have bin looking for a letter from me for som time but I could not sent a letter, the Railroad being cut in two thair was no way to sent any mail through/ we have bin in a very close plase for som time/ our supplies being cut off we ware obliged to go in the country around about us and bring in what we cold get hogs sheep cattle chickens geese and any thing that was fit to eate and gether corn out of the fields and bring it in and shell it and then take it to mill to get it ground to make Johny cake for our bread/ it is hard for the peoble in this country a many one has to see the last chicken or goose or pig taken away and still thay will   assist in taring up the Railroad so we cant get provison from the north and thairfore evry thing is taken away from them so thay have to suffer for it/ it very hard to think how angry that are 
        inesent have to suffer by it/ I doo hope this war will soon come to a close/ if it don   t I don   t know what will become of our country/ thair seemes to be no end of the wiched  ness that is going on with robing and steeling thair is at pressent a triel going here of a lot of artillerymen that broke in to a store and robet it/ I think it will go very hard with them/ I am still at my plase yet  and have a very good time/ I receivd 24 dollars of my extry pay a few days ago and Pait Col Pease 15 dollars/ I will sent you some as soon as I can get a chance/ I am afraid to put it in a lletter while the mail is so unreguler/ it might get lost and I think the pay master will soon come around and then I can send you som more/ I have not got a letter from you for a long while/ I want to here from you very much/ Please write as soon as you get this/ your affectionater Husband J. G. Burggraf  my love to all the children and Margret