[1] the
4, 1862
Newbern N C Oct
Dear Father and
Mother as i have
a few leasure mome
nts i thought i would
wright a few lines
to let you know that i
am well hopeing these few lines
will find you all the same what
is the k[n]ews home i dont find muc
h here though there was a little
skirmish up with the pickits
a short time ago but there was
no great lloss they captured four
rebels i beleive and the other
day four of ower men left
one of the gunboats and went
on the opposite side of the
river to get some water and
[page 2]
were captured by gerillers
we capture from them every
few days we capered one yesterday
we was talking with him this
morning about the war one
asked him when he thought
they would Come to some terms
he sed not tell we recog
nised them as a goverment
we just told him that they
never would be caled a free govern
ment we told him we should
fight like wild tigers and i
dont think we shall stay here
much longer they have got
the knews morth [2] that we
are going to charlston i should
as live go there as eny whare
i will drop the subject for i have
hurd e[n]ough & i hafter go on gard
eight owers a day four in the
[page 3]
day and four in the night
on the oposite side of
the river is very heavy wood
last night when i was on
gard i couuld hear the rebels dogs
howl over there last night
the Farmers here are gerillers
in the night i must drop
this subject for i dont
think of enything else to
wright about & now mother
i want you and father to
to have your pictures taken
together in a good shell
case and send them our
in the box please grant
me this favor do i will
bare the cost i must draw
to a close for i dont think
of enthing else to wright
[page 4]
so good by till agan
yours with haste
signed J B L