Camp Near Richmond
August 25th 1862
Dear Mother Brothers and Sisters I Seet
my Self this beautiful morning to in
form you that I feel better then I
did when I wrote Last though I am
very week I got to the rigment Last
nite and I had A very high fever but
I hope I Shall get well Soon we are in
Camp About four mils from Richmond
on the banks of the james river in
an old field thair is nomore hopes
of A fight now then thair is all has
been all the time but we do not know
how soon we may be orderd of to whare
A fight will be Mother it is hards time
here I have nothing new to write th
will be interesting to you I think th
I got the Agur an fever working on
me and I am going to make me some
bitters for I think it will help me I have
not been to the horse pittle yet and
I hope I Shant if I keep mending but
if I dont I Shall go thair to recruit
my health I want to here from
you very bad and pleas write Soon
and direct your Letters to Richmond
for thair is our post office now
[page 2, part of letter appears to be missing]
the choncience to do it but the Lord
will do Such A man justice Some
time we cant do nothing now but
I hope thair is A day Acoming when
I Shall be free then we will have
our satisfaction out of Such men
Mother give my respects to
whaley family and tell them houdy
for me I must bring my short and
uninteresting Letter to A close tell
Brother William houdy for me and
that I want to see him very bad
and that I hope he will be A good boy
and be carfel with the mare not to Let
runaway in harnes tell Brother
that I think About him daily
how prety he Loocked when I was home
and that I want him to be A good
boy and mind you I want to know
if he remembers me or not pleas write
soon and tell Ann an Jane to but
in Afew Lines nomore at presant
only I remain your Loving Son untell
death yours in Christ
good by John. W. Williams
to his Loving Mother