Camp Near May the 29th 1863
Rapadan Station Va Mrs Ann E Coggin
my affectionet Companion I take
the present opportunity of Droping
you afew lins wich leaves me in good
helth hoping those few lins may
Come to hand in Due time and
find yo and familey all well
and Doing well I receved a letter
from you yesterday Baring the Date
of May the 19th wich I read with
pleasure I was the gladest to hear
from you of Any Boddy that you
ever saw for I had Not got No
letters from you in some time and
I had got verry anedsey about you
I was verry sorry to hear that you
was sick and sorry to hear that
your eys had Been sore so long
I was sorry to hear that the Boy
Erley C. G. Coggins had the
whooping Cough though I hope
that it will go light with him
I wount you to take the Best Care
of them and your self that you Can
[??] [?sh?] Lord that you [????] [??] [1]
[???] we got plenty to Eat
[page 2]
I can say to ou hat we git
plenty of Bacon and flour is all
that we git to Eat Now we
have got some little Beef
some time ago the Boys all gits
one half pound of Bacon per Day
and one pound of flour I have
all my provisions to By I have
to pay on Dollar perpound for
Bacon and I have to give 50 cts per
lb for Beef we had orders to march
from hear this morning we have to
cook 3 Day rations and Bee Reddy
to march from hear Any time
that we may Bee called upon
I Dont have No I Da where we [2]
[I Da = idea] will go when we leave hear
I wount you to right to me if you
have got the paper and pen point and
envelops that I sent to you in
aletter I sent aletter to you By one
Mr smith and told him to leave
it at Dave Smiths and he said
that he would leave it ther for
you I have Not got No money
to send to you Now at this
time have spent all th [???] [3]
[page 3]
that I have Drawed for my
Board and Dr Bill at the Hospital
Cost me lots and my Rations
have Cost me agreat deal I
think that I will Draw again
soon and if I Do and Can git
the an opportunity I will send
you some I was verry much much supp supprised when I
Saw afew lins in your letter
from Miss Sarah Sime tell
her that I was verry proud to
hear from her and that I was verry
proud to hear that she was going
to git marred I would like
verry much to Bee ther at the
weding But as I Caint Bee
ther I hope that she will send
me some of her weding Cake tell
Miss Sarah that I wish her
and old Willy great Success
and I allso send Miss Burthia
my Best respect and I hope she will
send me some her Cake
[??] with her and old Elija good
luck tell them that I think
[???] [??] [Bee?] agood lick [4]
[page 4]
for them strike while
the Iron is hot for good looking
men will Bee scarse
when the war ends I hope
to hear from you soon I would
send you some stamps
But I Cannot git them hear
right how crops is and tel
mother and Mr Baty that
I have sent them several
letters and I have Not got
But one from them and that I got
when I got my Clothes Dont
send me No more Clothing
til I send for them I have
Nothing to right to you at the
present time Direct yours
to Richmond Va 47t Ala Vol
Co H yours tel
Death Leiut E B Coggin