Im writin this letter, my darling, from high on a hill
Weve been marching ten days and were just outside Hopkinsville
Its been snowing all night and we aint got no more kerosene
Its colder than hell, hope youre doin well, Josephine
Theres a fever in camp and our boys are too sick to fight
We done lost old Calvin, Beaver wont make it through the night
I overheard the captain say its the worst hes ever seen
Im losin some weight but Im still standin up straight, Josephine
Tell my children I miss em and wish I could kiss em once more
Bet theyve grown a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell mama and daddy Im alright and just one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine
Theres three thousand union troops camped at the river below
Six hundreds of us, least there was two nights ago
When Erwin deserted they hung him down by the tree
God Im so scared, keep me in your prayers, Josephine
Well the orders come down, well 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, bet he wasnt fourteen
He looked just like our son, forgive me for what Ive done, Josephine
Tell my children I miss em and wish I could kiss em once more
Bet theyve grown a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell mama and daddy Im alright 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
Dont grieve me too long, promise me that you will
Marry another, dont let him treat our babies mean
When hes holding you, would you think of me too, Josephine?
Tell my babies I miss em and wish I could kiss em once more
Bet theyve grown a foot since they waved me goodbye at the door
Tell mama and daddy Im alright and just one more thing
I love you, I love you, I love you, Josephine