Sept 23rd /62
Churchwell Camps Near Knoxville Tenn,
Dear sister
I am scarcely able to write But I will scrible
alittle, for my fingers is albut black now
with the measels but improving Jo has the
measels too but I dont know how he is getting
he is at the hospital I am at a private
house the reason of that I was watin on Willia
Moore & Jno. & J. T. Mc, when I was taken & remained
Sarah it is hard times here I will tell you just
how it is & then you can judge for your self
there was 85 men in our Company & now they ant
narry one in Camps they are all at the hospital
the day I [?] [J?] william taking the measels there
was 32 taken the measels has killed several but
Doctors say they Drunk too much water
But I dont know for I tell you they made
me pretty sick for afew days but if I had
drank water I might of ben wors the Doctors
say the measels will relaps 6 weeks afterwards
& I say if tht be the the case there willbe a menny more
relaps for I think in 6 weeks the snow will be liing
on the ground here for I [aint?] be pleasant
now without all on that I hav then want more
we will need clothing wel need a heavy Coat so as to
go over our jackets woolen pants & socks eavenly wol shirts
Blankets
[page 2]
J. T. Mc says tell martha Watts he will write [1]
when he gets able he got up for afew day but
got down again it ant no use to try to mention
who all has the measels for everry one from the
River has them except John moore & he has the fever
William Moore is mending alittle I will quit for
non of you wont write I think it albut ashame
for you all to treat me in such away you did write
afew lines but none of the rest dident say
awored I would be glad to hare from any thing that
stays any whers about home when write tell me
all about every thing tell all the negros I think
of them every day as well as the rest
Tell Thomas & Thomas John & Charly they must write to me
& keep my old fiddle strung up well & learn
to play & then when I come home we can hav
a frolick never let the strings dow[n] & she will
sound better. let the bow Down alitle

I will close by saying I hav hops of health yet

A. L. McGowin to his People
Sfruaolt
if you can pronunce that you
can get who you please