1865
Winchester V.A March the 5
Dear Brother & Sister
it is Sunday night
and every thing is so very
quiet & lonsome that I know
of no better way to pass
the time away than by
writing to someone and
it mint as well bee you
as enyone I have no news
of eny importance to tell
you the[y] is no enemy
near hear only stray
bands of gurilers
Gen Sheridan has gone
off on a Cavelery raid
towards Lynchburg
he hase been gone very
near a week and yet
I dont think that thay
have herd frome him
[page 2]
just before started frome
Wendell Depot that day
to come away I traded for
a hunter watch so when
I got to Erving I thought
that I would leave
one so I let Burt Murdock
take the one I had of
still and told him
to hand it to you
and I presume you have
got it before now you
can keep it till I call
for it I got my furlow
just in time for
the General stopped them
that week that I started
to come back and I
would stoped two or
three days longer if
I had a knowen it
but it is all the same
now. I dont know Sumner
[page 3]
but I have a strong belief
that it wont bee many
monts that is if I live
before I shall bee rid
of this (damneble army)
but I dont know
strange things happens
once in a while I dont
say as I think that
the ware is over or
will bee for a year
or more but I have some
hopes that that I shall
bee a free man before
then I dont know of
much to write now
tell Julia that I
forgot to as much as
to thank her for them
bags she made me
but tell her to write
to me and I will do
it then
[page 4]
tell Jane that I
have got that neck tie
around my neack yet
the is nothing more
that I can think of now
to write so I mint as well
draw to a close write as
soon as conveniant
give my best respects
to all good by
yours truly
J T Hammond
direct the same as before