the
Newbern NC. May .17. 1863
Dear parents as i have
Just received a letter
from you and highly
pleased was i to get
it, my health is fust
rate never Better hopeing
you will write the
same – now you must
excuse me for not
writeing before for i am
not on my write as
much as i was for
you musent think
hard if you dont
get one quite as often
as you did for i think
we shall stay here
in camp this summer
so you will know whare
i am but before we leave
[page 2]
i will write i have
a good ma[ny?] to write [1]
to and [?????] a good
deeal i think it has
cost me [??] dollars
for letters since i have
bin in the army but
i will write as often
as you do. you wrote that
you had sent me some
stamps in two letters
i have got them all
but the papers i have
not got them and
generaly when i get the
letters i get them
all in a heep and
i hope the next
letters i get will be
some picturs in it
i have got franks and
sams and electa i have
sent for Johns childs
[page 3]
picture – now i have
hurd pretty favorable
knews from Jow hooker
but i cant hardly
beleave it but i hope
so if so i think we
shall make a move
before long now have
you hurd enything about
it now you musy write
all the knews – you wrote
that George had gon away
and frank i should think
that father had rather
slim help this summer
now i must draw to a close
so good by till agan with
much love to all
write soon
I send this ring to
martha
the reason this ink
came on here the wind blew
against the tent and slaped it over