South Manas sa junc tion the 2[?] [1]
vergin ia august the [??] 1861
Deer foth er and mother brothers and
Sys ter i Seat my self down this eav
ning to let you no that mee and
frank is well and when you
Ree ceive this will find you in joying
the Same health i will tel you a bout
My ride Wee trave el all day fry
Day and all night and Saturday
Night Sunday morning wee got to
Ritch mon i have Saw lots of towns
but it is the big ist that i ever saw
Sephus Jim pain and john is in the [2]
hos pit tle 12 miles from the camp
ten ding to Sick and i hante Saw them
tha yankey is in 12 miles of us Wee
can hear ther cannon We think
Will bee a fight be four long thair is
A bout twelve hundrd in the horse
pit tle Sick with the measul and
fea vers wee git plenty to eat
So fer i Saw Som yan key Wee brau
ght Som with us
I Saw Sam and dan [??????]
Dan is fool of fun Reck you Sta at [3]
home reck tend to my to bac co
And corn take cear of my
thaings till i come back

lis and frank i want to See you
[page 2]
broth er cagor i nover [4]
will for git what you toal mee
About that gal cagar corn bread
is sase wee too times a day [5]
cagot wee got hear Safe and Sound
Wee got to the camp monday night
About eight ur Clock Wee hant
Don nothing yet oanly fix hour tent
Sunday morning wee croast ariver
I[n] a Steam boat wee croast A trusul
three miles long and Some of the
bigest rivers that Saw the car
run on like in a minit with 15
cars fool of men right Soon
Durect yor let ters camp ham
pton in cear of captain auston
right soon fair well dear broth
er Mr W M Dalton no more at pres[?]
Aron payne i am well Sys i want
to See you little benny reck
Stay at home i want to See yo all
Deer mother if i nover See you
All on this urth i will meat you
In heaven Reck tell my girl
how Dy for m[e] A H Dalton
Reck tend to my Sunday
tell Simeon ireseiv you let ter
And was glad th to hear that he
was well Dan Ses howdy to you all
A right to mee soon Y. D. eskew S. A. eskew
[added at top of page]
A. H. Dalton A. H. Dalton
[added at top of page 1]
Dy rect your let ter
to m nassy junction