Camp Mangum 1861
December the 24
Dear father I assume my Seet to inform you that
I am as well as common hoping thoes few Lines will
reach you and the family all well I received your Letter
with gladness whitch come to hand Last Sunday was A week Ago
thair is nothing new as I know of only thair is A
rumer about A battle fought neare Senterville in vergina
but I dont write it for the truth and it is reported
that we are whipt though I hope it is not So
the wether has been as beautiful for the time of year as
I ever Saw but it is very coald now
father I am faring wll for Somthing to eat and to ware
but I am tired of eating old bacon we have not had
any fresh meet to eat yet but I Shant Suffer we get
every thing now that we got before only the Lite
bread and I am glad of it for it is A ingure to
me I think father I have got A pare of Shose thay
are A very good pare and also I have got all of my
equpidge for war and we drill day after day all the
time it is given up that our Company is the best
drilled Company in the rigment Capt berry Says that he
will venture to Say that he has got the best Lurned men
in the rigment whether he is joking or not I dont no but
thair is Some that knowes but very Little
father I do not know when we Shall leave thair is A grate
deal of talk of moving Soon I heard the curnal Say that
we Should Leave here Soon and that we Should go down
to Willimington but he has gon home now but thay
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all think that we Shall get marching orders when
he comes back I hope this may reach you well
and doing well one more thing and then I
must close we carried our guns back and
got whats cauld the missippy rifle the best guns
that I ever Saw thair is no bayonet on
them So we Shall not fight with bayonets
please right Soon and Send me all the
nuse Send me how fur you have got up the
branch A cutting and evry thing that you
can think of for it revives my feelings
when I can here the nuse from onslow
this Leaves me well So write Soon and I will
close by Saying that I remain your Son in christ
untell death John. W. Wililiams to F. H. Williams

Dear Mother I Suppose that you have got that
money whitch joseph Williams oed me you keep
it your Self and Spend it to your one will
for you are perfectuly willing to it
Mother I received thoes Sorcerges you Sent to me thankfuly [1]
and has got one more fry yet I must come to A
close give my love to all my brothers and Sisters
So goodby write Soon John W. Williams