Camp Mangum Raleigh
N. C. March 31st 1862
Dear Wife & childrean I seat my
Self this morning to Drop you a
few lines to Lette you now that I
have bin very Sick for the last Three
Days We got to Salisbury on wedensdy
Night and Staid their untell
Fry day morning I taken the boul
complaint that Day and still have
got it but I am a little better
this morning I have not Eat
Enny thing Since worth naiming
un tell this morning I Eeat
a little Rice Soup & Some
coffy I am Still own the
Sick list this morning and Few
more it is Said to bee very
Sickely at this Place it is
Said that their was a bout
20 Dide Hear last weak
there is measels and mumps
in the camp there is a hospital
Rit close to whear we air in
and some of the men wanted
mee to gow their but i did not yet
[page 2]
I hope tell I rite a gain I will
bee Better I am in bad fix this
morning for Riteing I can
Say to you that I have saw mor
Since I left home than Ever
I did before there is a bout 6 or
7 thousand men own [this?]
and it is a very wicked place
I have heard more cursing and
Swaring in one Day than i did
in a month at home their
was prayer in one of the [??]
the camp last night they
have a bout 40 or 50 [yanking?]
[??]at Has to bee garded night
and Day hear I will Say to you
that I Expect to bee home a
bout Fry Day weak if i can
get off it is un certain how
long we will get to Stay
Hear but I will Rite a gain
betwixt now and then
you nead not rite un tell
I rite a gain I will Say to
you that if my health was good
I would bee as well con cented as
[rest of letter missing]