Atlanta Ga Sunday May the 24th 1863

Most Dearly beloved Wife and children I am proud that I am able to write you my feelings as I am deprived of enjoying your sweet and loving company   I have not been well for the last 2 or 3 days as I have been since I left my sweet home I truly hope I may come safe to home and find you all in you health   I draw this off today and will send it to you and I thought it fit one condition so will Dear Wife if I am live and able I will write you a long letter tomorrow for I have to write my heart is filled with grief and trouble   I hope we may live to meet again P.W.C. Britt

Ballad by George Underwood

My Dearest Wife and children too.

How glad I'd be to meet with you.

The thought of it gives me relief

When I am sad and filled with grief

When I get home and you embrace

And kiss your loving smiling face

I will banish all my pain & grief

And give my mind so much relief

When war has ceased and we set free

What happy meeting will there be

With husbands wives and children too

Of those that lives the war clear through

But sad to think of those that are

Left alone most in despair

Their husbands gone left them alone

What can they do but weep and mourn

But they have a friend who is greater still

If they will do his gracious will

I hope they will commandments fill

And come to Christ and ever live

What is the cause of this dear wife

To make me live a soldiers life

When I have always loved a home

And never craved this want to roam

The curse of it is to defend

A home for you and every friend

For we are boys that now will fight

For all and homes and southern rights

I am just in the prime of life

I have a child and a wife

I am far away from them today

I hope I have not long to stay

I have my washing now to do

My cooking and my sewing too

My lodging now is all

Of anything that's out of doors

The way we always have to eat

Is neither nice nor neat