Chantilly Va May 15th 1863

Dear Father
I take my pen
in hand to
write a few lines to you
to let you no that I am
well and tough and so is the
rest of the boys but Simon
Scribner and Elbredge Wight
they are sick but are doing
well it is very warm here
and the grass is 8 or 9 inches
high and the fields look good
thare is some of the nisest
farms here that you ever
see I wish that we had 50
acers of it it is so rich
I am in a great hury this
after noon for I am a goin
out on picket we have good
times here and I am well
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contented but if nothing
hapens we shall be at home
before long we are in the
same place that we have
bin in for some time and
it agrees with me very well
now I am tougher since I
came down here than I was
to arlingotn heights I am
all taned up black as a darkey
thare haint much news here
I supose that you here all
about the batles so I dont
write any thing about them
I supose that the boys in the
10 has got home I want you
to write and let me no if
you got my blanket all right
and if you do pay the bil on
them and I will pay you I
did not no which end it would
have to be paid on O how do
you and Coburn get along
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farming and have you got
all my pay and have you
got the little steers broke
and has Mr Adams bought
any yet and how does
sewell get along this
spring a farming O how
does Mr Chute feel about
Curt I guess he wishes
that he had taken him
home with him he is
with his rigt now and
I hurd that he was in the
fight [1] but dont no for
shure whether he was or not
the boys have got some
boxing gloves in our Co and
they have a good deal of fun
with them and we play ball
and have fine times to go
with our rough ones we
have got so that we can lay
down on the ground and go to
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sleep as well as any whare
and I haint had a cold since
I have bin here and I have
laid out on picket damp
cold nights and foggey
ones and some ones that
was what I call rainy ones
but I am rough as a bull now
I have rote all I can think
of so good by give my love
to all and a share for
you self so write soon
and all the news
from your son E Turner