Arlington Sept 21st [1862]

Dear Brother
I will
try and write a fiew
lines this morning thinking
you would like to hear
from me. I am a live
and kicking hope you
are the same I have
not had a Letter for
over a month and I know
there must be some
letters in the Co. for
me and I am going
to write to some of
them and have them
sent them to me
[page 2]
I am going to see the
Comisary and have you
direct your letters so
that they will come
to the 4 Brigade so I
can get them some time.
our Reg. is up to Frederick
doing Provoise duty [1] or
that is what we heard
yesterday they have had
a pretty rough time up
to the Ferry [2] glad that
I wasent there I had
rather stand back and
let the others go a hed
and then I will follow
and see what they
have done. when will
this war end I have
seen about enough of Old
Virginia and would like
to get back to Maine
[page 3]
out of this stinking
nasty hole. if you see a
darned nigger kill him
or else give him a damed
licking I think the
best thing that can
be done is to make a
compromize with the
Sotherners and then drive
every nigger into the
Sothern Confedrosy and
not allow one to crosse
the lines if the sotherners
wants nigger lett them
have niger to their hearts
content for my part I
never want to see a black
son of a bitch.
Dont you enlist if you
havent all alredy but
stay at home where we
all had aught to be
[page 4]
if they draft go to the
Dr. and tell him you
are not able to come out
here and dont you come
either I’d like to s[t]ay
square with Uncle Sam
and have him send me
home the whole sothern
States might go to the
old harry [3] for what I’d
care. our Soldiers have
got tired and sick of
this hide and Coop game
first one side run and
then the other. write
all the news there is going
and I will see if I cannot
rig some way to get the
letter our drove of cattle
have has got down to 5 but
we are going to have 50 or 60
more soon good by
A M Brackett