Head qwarters Near Fredickburg
Febwary the 16 1863
Dear Father And mother And
Sister I take my pen inhand to
drop yow afew lines to let yow
know that I am well at
present hoping when theas few
lines comes to hand they may
find yow well I just got
in offen picket yestoday eavin
I Saw the yankes on post some
of our men talk with one of
they yankeess he ask him when
they lowd to fight us again
his Answer was he dint know
he hope nevver again he said
he thaught he wood get home
before long times is civil hear
know yow wrote to me if I kned
kneeded any to let yow know
and yow wood send it to me
I want yow to send me a ten
and a spoon we got to drawing
swgar ever four days
[page 2]
about one pownd for fore days
that maks me want a spoon
to stir my coffee we have
Rice beef bacon we get plenty
know some thinks their wont
be mutch more fighing I herd
what be come of John Rankin
their was many in an albamma
Regement who waitted on him
at winchester he told Jo Allen
he tended two him two
weaks and he dide at winchester
he Said that his thoat Rise [1] under
boath Sides and broke open so
that is nuf on that I want
to know if yow got my cloth
that I sent with uncil levi
Allen and I want yow to
Right what you Receive I
want to know how yow are
getting Along And what
yow are gowing to do with
your mare And mion [2] weather
yow low to pwt [3] them or not
[page 3]
I think if yow had better put
one off [4] them if not both
So that is nwf [5] on that I
want yow to Right and give
me all the news I am
gowing to Right mister
Ranking aletter and let him
know what become of him [6]
I fell it my duty to let
him know of his death
So no more at present only
I want yow to Right
And let me know if yow
get this letter
W H Brotherton
to thomas Brotherton
Dear sister I am healthy
than ever I was in my
life I youst to have
the hard burn [7] I
nevver have it know
atall
William H Brother
Elizabeth Brother ton
[page 4]
Dear granmother I take
my pen in hand to let
yow know that I well
at present hoping when
those few lines comes
to hand they may
find yow well
and doing well I am
doing well I wood
like to See yow all
tell aints [8] I hant
for got them yet
tell uncil Bills howdy
for me So no more
at present Right soon

to granmother
Howard
from W H Brotherton