camp Rantoule House Febuary the 5
deir frend i tak my pen in hand to
let you no that i am well hoping
this com to hand it may find
you well i have nothing mutch to
writ i wold like to see you all
i wold have come down to see you
all but i cood not git the chanc
i have not got narey leter from
home in three weeks i heir that
all you that is over forty
yers old is a bout to git off
i wold be glad that you an your
frends cood git off i wold be glad
this war wold close an let all of
ous go home, we git corne meele an
beef to eat if you git off i wold
like to see you before you go home
we ar camp in sit of rantoule
stshion if i nowd wen you was
going home i wold com out
to the rale road to see you all
[page 2]
we have to gard tow bridges
on the ashely river we have to
go a bout twenty miles to them
we have to drill twise a day i
reckon you have heird a bout the
fight on the stonou river an
at charleston i reckon you have
heird that thomas boyd was kiled
in the fight at Murfeesboro
I was sorow to heir of it i want
you to writ to me an let me
no how you ar a giting a long
i will have to come to a close
so nothign more at presant but
i remaind your frend till deth

Fenton Hall: To Davyd Murdock
i had to writ this in a hurey