I'm writin' this letter
my darlin' from high on the hill
We've been marching ten days
and we're just outside Hopkinsville
It's been snowing all night
and we ain't got no more kerosene
It's colder than hell
hope you're doing well Josephine
There's a fever in camp
and our boys are too sick to fight
We done lost old Calvin
Weaver won't make it through the night
I overheard the captain say
it's the worst he's ever seen
I'm losing some weight
but I'm still standing up straight Josephine
Tell my children I miss 'em
and wish I could kiss 'em once more
Bet they've growed a foot
since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell Mama and Daddy
I'm all right and just one more thing
I love you I love you
I love you Josephine
There's three thousand Union troops
camped at the river below
Six hundred of us at least
there was two nights ago
Will Irwin deserted
and they hung him down by the stream
Good God I'm so scared
keep me in your prayers Josephine
Well the orders came down
we attack tonight at nightfall
If we can stop them right here
we can win this war once and for all
You know
I killed a Union boy last week
I bet he wasn't fourteen
He looked just like our son
forgive me for what I've done Josephine
Tell my children I miss 'em
and wish I could kiss 'em once more
Bet they've growed a foot
since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell Mama and Daddy I'm all right
and just one more thing
I love you I love you
I love you Josephine
And lastly my darling
in case I should be killed
Don't grieve me too long
promise me that you will
Marry another and don't let him treat
our babies mean
And when he's holding you
won't you think of me too Josephine
Tell my babies I miss 'em
and wish I could kiss 'em once more
Bet they've growed a foot
since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell Mama and Daddy I'm all right
and just one more thing
I love you I love you
I love you Josephine
I love you I love you
I love you Josephine