the 26th 1861
Raleigh N..C November
Dear cousin I seat myself
this morning to drop you a few
lines to let you know that
I am well at presant and I
hope when these few lines comes
to hand they will find you
well also,
Dear cousin I will tell you something
about our camp life and also
about the health of the same
it is true a camp life is not
like being at home where we
can go when and where we please
but I did not Expect that when
I left home so I think it
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will be good for the boys
if they are kep under a while
I think it will make men out
of them some of them complains
rite smart sometimes but for
my part I take it very
easy and am enJoying myself finely
Our healt is tolerable good we
have some few mesels cases
but I think they are about
ofer we have but one man in
the hospitle at this time
that is R..L Baily he has had the
Newmony but is smartly on
the mend I think he will
come out in a few days
for my part I have bin
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very healthy ever since
I have bin here and if I
can keep that, that is all that
crave, I do not fear the yakeys
I have saw a good many of
the scamps and if theve no
better men then I saw I thik
the sampson will good
for one thousand of theme
as for the war news I have non from
the fact that we hear non I sopose
that you hear more news then we do
so I will close that subject
Dear cousin I can tell you that
I saw your letter that wrote to
Mrs guilford and I saw a great
many remarks wich you made that
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pleases me wery much
the one is I am very thankful
for the kind Respects which
you have Shown to me
the next is for the Respects
which you give the cowerd
I only hope that you will keep that
notion Espe[cios?]ly if it is the one
I think tis for I do not think that
it would suit a as Respectable
young lady as you are to live so
near the big swant so keep your
notion and I will close by saying
write soon if fi it is
your desire to do so So no
more at prestant But believe
me to be your true friend
until death, P.. S.. Whitener