Friday Feb 20 163

Camp Near
Bell Plane . VA

My Dear Wife
I tak this oppoteny
of wighting A few
lines to you I
hope thay will find
you All well As
thay leave us At
Present I thought
I should hav had
A letter from hou [1]
this morning when
I came in off picket
we whent out last
sunday Night At
twelve 12 o clock so you
will see that wee
hav bin out five
days
[page 2]
It has bin wett
all week the roades
are nearley impasebel
out thare we ware
in a diferent plase
to Picket this last
time we ware
along the river side
the rebles are plenty
thare thay are quiet
free with thair tung
thay talk and joak
with our men thay
ofering fifteen dollers
fore our boots in
gold twenty fore
them in paper thare
was six started to
com a cross that night
thare was only one
that got across the
rest ware drowned
[page 3]
thay ware derserting
the river was very
rugh that night
the one that got
across says thare hole
comney would leave
if thay got the chanc
he says thay hav the
whole cuntry fortifde
over thare he is and
irish man he has bin
in this contry along
time Boath north and
south Dear wife
I receved your
Porteferlow last sundy
I am very well
Pleased with It my
Best and most sincer
thanks fore it
it is now three
o clock time to mail
this letter
[page 4]
I wrote A letter
to uncel John
Band last saturday
I hope I shall get
Answer fore that
I never got no answer
fore the last one
It is Butiful day
to what it has
bin all week the
wind is raging very
high the roades are
awfell Giv my
respects to All
the folks
I hav not receved
no letter fore seavrel day [2]
your Affectnate
Husband to his
William Wife M A
Band Band