Charles Roberts to Maggie Roberts (7 January 1863)

              Camp near Shelbyville, Tenn
[Jany] 7th 1863.)
My own darling wife,
I have written you several letters since
I left home and sent some by mail and some by persons going
near Oxford, but fear very much that you have not recd all,
if any – I recd one letter form you dated Nov 30th just at the time
our officials were evacuating Oxford and since then have heard
nothing definite form home – I have spent many anxious hours
in thinking of the trouble and anxiety you have suffered since
I last saw you – I hope my fears have made it worse than
it has been in reality but I know at the best it must have
been a terrible trial for you to undergo, situated so near the
two contending armies – My prayers have been earnest and constant
for your preservation and safety and for His protection of our little
ones, and I trust God in his mercy has seen fit to answer thus – 
Since I last wrote you my dear wife, I have taken part in 
a long and severe battle and have been mercifully spared
although I thought at times it was impossible for any of the
Company to come out alive – I arrived at Murfreesboro on the
[17th] Dec and remained in camp until Monday Dec [24th] when
we left early in the morning and formed line of battle about
a mile the other side (North) of town – on Stone River – we remained
here until Tuesday evening exposed to occasional shelling from 
the enemies artillery – On Tuesday evening the skirmishing on our
left became very heavy and two guns from our battery were
sent to assist a battery already in the engagement – The piece I