Near Richmond
September the 4th 1862

We left Salisbury last monday a week
was a weak ago and started to Richmond we had a fine
ride on the cares to Petersburg there we stoped and stayed
all night next morning we was ordered to march three miles
out of town and strike up camp we fixed up our tents three
times as soon as we got fixt up and thought to stay a while
and was ordered to go to Richmond last Sunday morning so
Sunday all day we was cooking our rashins till in the
night it a raining as hard as it could so on monday morning
we started back to Petersburg there we was to have transportition
on the cares but we had to take it a foot to Richmond with all
our napsacks and lugage Twenty five miles we marched
about seventeen miles the first day started from our
camps at nine o clock we marched in the night The
swet pored off two or thee dropp at every step a cloud
come up just at dark and rained hard we just had
to take it ruff shod through the rain it was eleven
oclock when we came to camp we kindled up a little
fire about half of us could get to it so we had to lay on
----Look on the other side---------
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the wet growng in our wet clothes I nearly frose
towards day we reached Richmon the next day
from there we went six miles north of that place
and staid all night in the edge of the old field without
tents next morning we come back one mile to where we
are now we received our new guns this morning our
company got Rifles only seven companies are togeather
I am nearly done from marching my feet is mighty sore
John W Spease wishes me to state that he is well and wishes
to know how all are at home and how Sidney comes on [1]
makeing brandy and how he gets along [??]ing the fruit
whether he has any one to help him I should like to know
how much he has made and whether he taken Conrads peaches
or not sid must right if he knows anything of Sandford
if he knows where he is We all are expecting to take the
mumps in a fiew days two has had them in our tent and the
Measels are in our camp we have to pay Twenty five cents for a
dozen peaches and the same for a quart of cider one doller for
a half growen chickn sometimes we have to buy our provision
and it comes high or do without he wants to know whether
Linvill has takn all the Whisky away and paid for it if
I had it here I could get Twelve dollars a gallon I would
like to know wher Haywould Wright is whether he is at home
I would like to know how much wheat there was I sold
that black coat and will have to sell or throw away some
more of our clothing as it is imposible to carry them
we will send them home if there is any chance as we
did our bedclothes in a box from high point to Lias
Voglers in salem some of J W Banners things was in the
Box we allowed you would know them apart John sends
word to Isack that he has give his fiddle away we have
got his quilt with us and would like to have him
They talked about sending for him when we was at
Salisbury and we perswaded them out of it so we
want him to come prety soon and help us take Washigton
City the news here is that Jackson has got in the
rear of Pope and Gen Lea has taken Manassas back
A Thousand cavalry left here going to Manassus the
other day I saw John H Terry and such hands with
him as he passed going to Manasses in a cavelry compeny
he is the same old rascal yet I can see every once and
a while same one I kow I want you all to wright
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or we will have no incouragement to wright to you
yours respecfuly J W Spease

Adaline I want you to send me some money by the
first passing and be certin some say we will get our
bounty in a day or two it may be so but I cant depend
on that so it is oncertan it takes a heap to buy a
little Isaac will have to be here when we draw
or he may not get any Them boots that I wrote to
you about I should like to have very much
when it comes winter it is right cool mornings
here now we are in a flat level country you
can see for miles and the watter is the worst
kind and no wood atall Three calvs went by here
just now for 18 dollars mutton a head 12 dollars where
is a pore soldiers money at such licks as this
when he craves a fresh mess Jackson wants to know
if sid has sold his Mules or not We want all to
write often Direct your letters for the presant To
J C Zimmerman Richmond 57 Ridgment in care
of capt Mann