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