Feb the 5 day 1862
Dear cosen i seate my Self to ancer your
afectionated letter you send [????????]
hear from you an to hear you was well [?????] [1]
only i had the rest of the family is
all well as common only mother she is beter than
she has bin your ant [???] has got another
Soldier hit is 3 weaks old next friday mor ning
i heard thir was 40 yankes Steamers newbern was Shore
a feu day ago an i want you to tell me is hit
is So or not your unclle jery is draud to go
to the war an your Robert was draud too
but he has got clare tha have not got no orders
yet an i hope tha never will for if tha do i dont
now what we will do i have nothing new to
rite as i now of only hard times an wors a coming
i fear the peapell is general well throw here only
bad i want to Sea you mity lord tha
all want to Sea you mity bad an if you get [???]
chan to com home before your time is out i
want you to com an Sea us certain miss mary A Sandlin
send her love an compliments to you an
says she respect you an all the rest of the soldiers
tha is in the defence of thire cuntrey right
miss rebeck southelins Send her love to you an
rachel newcurk her love an houdy to you an
[???] say and the Same Lewis an Daniel is gone to [2]
ralei i herd form them yesterday tha was
boathe well but [???? ?????????] hope he is not
dangerously jimmy dan[???] sends houdy to you and
you dont now how hit please them when tha heard
the word you sent them i want you to try to
take care of your Self an i will try do the same
I ask a intrest in all of your prarys are i dont
want you to for get prayer i pray for you everday
the best i can in hopes that god hears my pray
[page 2]
i want you to rite son an tell mea all
the news an rite as son as you can [?????]
this you sea remember mea tho many miles
a peart we be i hope if we never meat on
earth we will meat in heave rite son
Rox A sandlin to absant cosen
John u williams

Dear grand Son this will inform yow of
my health i am beter than i have i
bin i was bad of a bout a weak a go but
thank god i hav got so i can walk to the
fire with one to lead mea i want you to try
to do the best you can i want to Sea
yow mity an if you get the chance
to com home i want you to come
an Sea me i remember yow in all of
my praiys write son as yow can
an i will do the same god bless you is
my pray jane sandlin to her gran
Son John w Williams