Camp Mangum Near Raleigh
January 9th 1862
Dear father I take my pen in hand to drop you
A few Lines to inform you that I am as well
as common hoping thoes few Lines will reach you
ingoying the Same blessing I received your kind
Letter the Six of the month and was glad to here
that you was all well thair is A heep of Sicknes
in our Company Last nite james kincy died in [1]
the horse pittle whitch makes Six men we have Lost
out of our Company and nite before Last Eliga ball [2]
died it has been very Coald for the last three days
thair has been A big Sleat here and it is mighty
coald and cloudy to day I have nothing to write
that is of much intrust to write only we have got
our over coats whitch was dew us and father I am
going to Send my old coat home to you by james
mills when he goes home and you take it for your
one use I would Send the new one but the oficer
wants us to keep them because thay are all alike
and wants us to be drest Alike till mother and jane
and Ann that I cant write any for them now but
I will write Soon pleas mama Send me A peace of
fresh meet and bread by bryant basden and A potato [3]
not because I have nothing to eat [?] I send this write
Soon no more at presant John. W. Williams