Sulls Island Batry Marcial Feb 16th /64
Dear Rachel
I seat myself to drop
you a few brief lines which will
inform you that I have landed
safe to camps with my Box and all
things and found all the boys in
moderate good helth hoping
this may reach you and chidren
all well. this morning I was caried
up to the col in investigat my
case of being absent without
leaf at first he seemed desirious
of having me punished but
after Examining my permit
and seeing it was given on account
of your being sick and not for boxis
and then seeing the certificate
up to the date I left he sad it
locked hard to punish a man in
such a case and he would have don
the same himself and he did not
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think Eney the Less of me as a
Soldier by staying and thought more
of me as a housband by staying
with you as you ware sick so he
Excused me for the offence and
told me to go in piece so the
Matter is all right
Dear Rachael I have no news of in
terest to right you times heare is
tolerable quiet we have a winday
disagreeable place to stay at
Rachael I want you to take good care
of yourself and git well soon as you
can and try to see that my cattle is
fed and taken better care of than tha
have bin if you have to have some of my
fodder holled up their to feed them if you
can have them fed to themself is I would
not like to feed all the cows on the place
off my fodder and git some one to look after
your goat my love and Respects to you
Sisey and the baby your afectioante: John