Scope and Contents

The fate of their dear boy [Johnny]; the enclosed account is what they fear[?]; Nannie and Molly insist that he is not drowned but is a prisoner; they recieved a letter from Dabney Maury dated Vicksburg, 3 Feb[ruary 1863]; Johnny was a L[ieutenant] on Dabney's staff; on 27 Jan[ua]ry, Johnny went alone on the road to examine the boats[?]; Dabney said that when he asked the next morning he found that Johnny had gone across a swamp down to the Miss[issippi] River; he crossed in a brook; they hope he was captured on the other side by enemy troops; they sent a flag of truce across to see if he had been captured on the other side by enemy troops; they sent a flag of truce across to see if he had been captured; Gen[era]l Grants did not know but said e wuold cjeck; that is all DAbney said; they are worried but have reason to hope. 3pp. ALS