Letter+to+Kathleen

July 2nd, 1963 Gettysburg, PA     72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Dear Kathleen, Ever since I joined the 72nd Pennsylvania, I was confident that I would make through this terrible conflict. These past few days though I have accepted that i have a good chance of being killed. The weather here is something that I have never seen before. It feels like it is hot enough to boil water without a fire and these wool uniforms they gave us should not be worn in this type of weather. The past few days have been some of the toughest fighting that I have ever seen. I have lost many of my friends and it seems that no one is going to make it out of this place they call Gettysburg. If I make it through this next day I will try to get word out as soon as possible, if I do not then this is goodbye. Do not be sad that I have died because I believe what I am doing is right and is just. Sincerely, Your Husband