August the
27 1863
Camps Near Orange Court house

Dear Granmother I Seat my
self down to drop yow Afew lines
to let yow know that I am well
at present hoping when those few
comes to hand they may find
yow well I wood like to See
yow the best in the world
but disstant wont permit
me at the present I hope
it wont be long thowgh tell
I will get home I have
ben owt 13 month or Soon
will be I tell yow it a
good while to be bound wors
than Anegro I tell yow I
have seing some hard
times sceince I come
owt from what I can
learn yow are a sein some
hard times so no more
only Right Soon Gran mother
W H. Brotherton
[pages 2 and 3 out of focus in the photograph]
[page 4]
tired
of old Vergina I want know
if yow have herd Any thing from
henry Allen or Joseph Allen
sceince they was takin prisiner
I havent herd Any word
from them our armmy is
confuse mighty at present
if they go to charlsston I
think they will be Agood
many of the Boys come
home So I have give yow
All the news So no only
Right William H Brothe ton
to Thomas Brother ton
I dont think it will
be lon tell I will get
home I think if they
hold owt Desertin they
wont be many men
in they feild By
Chrismas Right Soon
And give me all