John H. J. Knowles’ third letter was written from Lynchburg, Virginia on June 18, 1862. He died in July 1862 in a Confederate Hospital in Lynchburg and is buried in the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg.
I have retained the actual spelling and capitalization, but have added some punctuation at the end of sentences and spacing for paragraphs to make the letter easier to read. This letter had more extensive damage on the folds, and had some mold, so there are several lines that are illegible.
Linch Burg va
June 18 1862
Dear wife I take my pencil in hand to drop you a few lines [illegible]. I have the chance of sending it to Roy [illegible-page tear] fix to invite you. But god has Blessed me so far. I am yet able to poke about tho I am in a horsepitle [hospital] & has Bin ever sence I written to you. Before I left the richmon horsepittle last {page tear} 13 I travled [page tear] day & night on the car and got to this foruling [following?] the rigment and we had to by rest heare one day on Sundy. on munday we got to sharlotvill va & the men [page tear] went down on me & I was forst to go to a horsepittle. But I got over them. son they did not hert me hand [illegible]. But I got sick with my Brest and the muralsey. it is herting me the worst now. I am much Better to night than last night my throat & brest is about the same as it was when I was home. more than I feel ___ every week I cant march at al.
I was [at] sharlottville horsepitle today be on which I regret that I had to move. I was where I was wated on for every thing & got a plenty to eat & that ___ was klean and we [page tear] the Best old motherly women you ever saw. hear everything is to the contrary nothing to eat and what is is Badly put up. But thank god I have got anof in my knapsack to last me while I stay here if I don’t take no Backset for I am determd to hunt the rigment.
I am at this time about one hundred miles From them. I shal heare from them in a few day and then I shall go to them if I don’t stay (illegible line – mold and page tear). I shall not be able to go with the rigment unless I mend fast which I trust to god I will. I sent the Capt a letter by Dr folk for him to give me a discharge. But I fear they cant until I get to them & I fear they wont then. [b]ut dan– Has wanted me to get a discharge but I have [page tear]h out I [illegible] get well. But sence we got among the mountains I know I will not. son I have not one ce[page tear]t eny letter from home. yet I dream about you all very often which dos me som good. send me a letter By D Davidson so do the Best you can. I trust god will Bles you all. so nothin & men John Knoles
