Head quarters Near Fredickburg
Febwary the 9 1863
Dear cousin I take my pen inhand
to let yow know that I am well
at present hoping when those few
lines comes to hand they may
find yow all well I wood like to
See yow the best in world I nothing
important to Right only times is civil
hear at present I wood like to be at
home to fly Round with Some of them
pretty girls but disstant wont permit
I dont think times will be alas [1] like
they now I want yow to tell all the
girls howdy for me tell them I am
in good spirts I am as fat as ahog
and injoy my Self as good as had
cood wish for only times Seems very
hard I Setting in my Shanty Riting
as big as I fell like I am
at home only I cant qite turn
my cher Round as qick as yow might
Serspose fur that dont differ I can
Set crosslegged and chaw my tobacco
So that is anoughf on that sabject Jo [2]
as well and harty he is fatter and ever I saw
him in my life all my mess is well
[page 2]
it is very warm hear this morning
it looks like corn planting henry I wood
like to see yow I tell yow we See
aheap of fun hear but when the
Canions commences Roing we have
to draw in alittle tell my S
I am fat and harty and can
bake as good bread as the man I
wrote aletter two hur I begin to think
She has blwff me mabe She
Has not got my letter yet
So no mare at Present only
Right Soon and give me all
the news Excuse bad writing
and Spelling to H. H. Allen
From W. H. Brotherton
I am bound to frank [3] I
cant get any Stamps hear