[1] Fair Oaks
June 14/62
Dear Sister
I got your
letter today
and it gave
me much
pleasure in hearing
from you that you
was well as this
leaves me at present
i have not got any
news now only that
we are a building
fortifications and
are ready for them
when they are [???]
we have a picket
shot now and then
it is ruff to do
picket but i dont
[page 2]
have any to do
for i am Cooking
now Gen McClellan
and Burnside
went through our
camp yesterday
and i guess they
will make the
attack tuesday
i hope so to
for we want
to get out of
this as soon as
we can so i
can go fishing
it is hot
enough to roast
the Devil here
now but it
will rain soon
i expect for
we never have
[page 3]
have more than
one fair day at a
time tell me how
Jane and Mother
likes and little
Nellie i saw Ned
Meessay to day
he is well and
and likes well
we got payed off
to day and you
will get your
in a day or twos
time before you
go home tell me
so i can write
i have put a
gold dollar in
this for Nellie
put it on her
neck keep it
untill i come
home
[page 4]
tell Mother not
to wory for i
will look out
for my Carcass
kiss Nellie for
me for i will
home a little
while give
my love to George
and tell him
not to come
out be a home
guard i got
all the papers
and we got
the minatures
Dave and
Bill sends
there love to all
the folks and
mine to [???]
write soon
as you get this
From your
Brother Jer Downs