John Montgomery's letter home:
I hope you will not get tired reading my letters. No person will hardly ever write to me.
I do wish you would write oftener, don't wait for something of importance to write, you don't know how much good it does me to hear from home.
Ma I am yet, in this miserable hospital. As fast as I get over one thing something else pitches on me.
I have a fever ever night. I was very sick last night. I have pains in my legs and the worse sore throat you ever saw. I have almost anykind of divilment you can think of.
Ma some of our Cavelry under Col. Forest, went on a scouting expedition last week and found some of the yankees on Green River. We had 70 men they had 270. We killed 15 and took 13 prisoners. We lost 2 men. The prisoners are here in the hospital a bad looking set of men. They are shot all to pieces. One has the flesh peeled off the back of his head with a saber.
Ma this is new Years day, how I do wish I was at home today. If I knew I would be at home again, I would be satisfied but I have little hope.
Ma I sent Pa a paper sometime since and wrote a few lines, I told him that I had applied for a furlow, they won't give furlows under no circumstances, but they give discharges in cases where a person is not able to bear arms. Dr. Vernon and another doctor will examine me as soon as I get able to go to camps but I don't expect much favor from them. If they don't give me a furlow or a discharge, I am not going to go on duty and expose myself more than I can help. If I could have health I would always be ready and willing to do my part but I have as bad health as any can have. You would not know me I don't think I am not as strong as Billy. I don't think if he is well.
Mama I have fallen upon a new idea though it is thin. If I fail to get a discharge and my health does not improve I thought I would write to Pa and ask him to get some man to come and take my place. I know there is some around Gilmer idle. The pay of soldiers will be raised to $16 and I think the additional pay of 4 or 5 dollars would induce some one to come. I hate to mention this to Pa he is so much behind. We are allowed 42 dollars a year to cloth us. I have got $5.15 worth which leaves $36.85 they owe me. $25.00 for my gun, $10 for my blankets, $5 for my knife and $33 for my wages making in all $109.85 allowing a man $5 a month besides his wages would pay him about 22 months by this time he would be able to take my place. Our men get a plenty to eat flour, bacon, beef, rice, sugar, coffee and some times molasses. ma show this to Pa and tell him to write to me as soon a he considers the proposition that I have just made. Ma I feel so bad I will have to lie down, but let me mention Lucks Regiment. I suppose they have gone to Pittsburgh taken winter quarters and fortified that is a very important point I reckon they will be able to hold it. I hope none of them will get hurt. Write as soon as you get this give my respects to all. I want Pa to be certain to write. Kiss Ellen and Eugenia for me. Hit Levin and pull Billys nose tell Jim to be a good boy. Fairwell and belive me ever your affectionate son. John Montgomery
(This was his last letter home. He died of measles)