[1] Picket Guard by the Patomac
Near Seneca Hills
Sunday Dec 15th 1861

Dear Friend

I thought that
I would just write a few lines
to you it being sunday and it
Seams very lonesome hear lyman
Recived to letters from you last
Night I had the p[l]easure of read
ing them mother says that she
Doant hear eny thing from
Da[?] other boy I thought that
I would just show you that he
still lives I am geting so
fat and lasy that I do not
feel as if I would write to eny
one I suppoes if I doant write
Now you will think that I do
Not carr eny thing ab you and
So I doant want to write to you
[page 2]
But it is not so I like
to write and I like to hav
others write God noes that there
is nothing more pleasing to me
then to get a letter from home
I hope that I may be excused
for not writing oftenner I will
try to do beter after this
hannah you sent your lightne
ness in the letter ho is that for
lyman has got one mour that
belongs to you now I think one
of them aught to be mine
the one that I sent home
I wish it to be given to
Betsy I suppoes that you
Will want to keep it but
It would pleas me very much
have it given to her  I now just
I what mother will say when you
till her my wants she will say
O [???] if he carrs more a bout
Betsey draper then he does of his
[page 3]
old mother  she can have
It if you will send me 1 dollar
I will send you an other one
in a letter if you do not wish to part with it
pleas write and let me no and I will
So I will now what to do about it
if you want to keep it  pleas send
Me 1 dollar and I will have a nother
taken pleas send a gold dallar  billes
Are not worth a dollar out hear
to Mr Wood cork I see thet
Mr wood wrote a few lines in
that letter he said that
Charls tomson had got
My Watch I did not under
stand it Mr wood wanted
Me to give it to him I do
Not want to part with I
had wrather giv him something
Els when I come home I
Will fetch him a gun home
One that will kill a duck
A half a mild of by thunder
[page 4]
uou you I Wish that
you you could sea the
Duck out hear tha
Are thicker then hairs on
A bairs ass I guess that
is All that I have
to Wrrite this time
good bye untill you hear
from me in my next
Good night

I Remain your humble
 servant
Jacob A Blackington

excuse all mistakes