1862
Kinston N.C. May 16th
Dear Mother I received your kind
Letter Last mondy and was glad to here
that you all was well and doing well
I am ingoying very good health at
presant but I have been very sick
with the chils and fever I went to
the horsepittle Last thusday was A
week Ago and come out Last saturday
I have been having fevers Along untell
the Last two or three days but I feel
well now I am not as fat as I was
but I think that I shall mend now
for I throwed up boil of my stumak
three days and runing
we have moved over the river to
kinston we are in sight of the town
it is A prety place whare we are
now the times is as hard as ever
the yankees has got percesion of
norfolk and we fight nearly evry
day our pickets had A fight with the
yankees and one man took some
prisoners we expect to be in A fight
before Long but I dont know whether
we will or not it is doutful
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Mother I am very well satisfied
with the oficers I Like our capt
mighty well for I do not know
what would become of this Company
if it had not been fo Capt talor
he has stuck up to us better then
any the rest of the oficers.
I get A plenty to eat and fare
well we have drawn some clothing
I got A soot and sent home
Coat shirt draurs and pants by
John Whaley and I want you to
write if you have got them.
I was going to send my new pants
home but Capt told me to keep them
they are nice black yarn pants
I thought I would keep them tell
I went home I have got two suts
gust as much as I want.
I have been Cooking for myself un
tell the recrutes come and now
Lewis mills cooks for me I am in
the same old mess with the jarmans
I have wrote all that I can think
of write soon and send me all the
nuse and I remain your son untell
death John. W. Williams
[continued in left margin]
I hope the time will soon come when I can go home to stay
[upside down in top margin]
jane give my love to all the
girls and receive A share for
your self