munday moring sept 22th [1862]
Neare Harpers Fererrey

I. write to Anser your qustions
you Letter Came at hand larst night I was
Glaid to see it the first i have had for two
weeks this was dated 14. that and 17 ever remberd day.
the two that wrote the 6. 7. I. expect to Git you
Ask how I. fare some times we do not Git
quit so much to eat when we are on a march
but when halted we fare Pretty well we have
fresh Meat which we Cook our selves Put
I. on a stick and roast I. we rations of Coffee
sugar a bout as much as we want. which make
I. our dippers. sometimes have our Meat Boilled we
have raw Pork dealt out doint yow Laught
It is good roast it. but the soldiers life
Is not a very Plaesent it is verey hot heare
the sun so hot you Canot sit in it Cool
nights hevey due we have no th tents we
Lay dwon under our Blankets keep very
warm we encamped on a hill on this side
of the shanandoarh mountains. I Lay all in
sight of the riessing s[t]ar which Can see
[page 2]
the first Part of the evening. yow spoke about
My shoes which are bout good as new we have
not had our knapsack sence we left Camp whipell
we Left our dress Coats over Coats dra[w]ers
shirts others small thing we expect to Git
as soon as we stopt aney where. which I.
expect we shall to drill and Git officers which
have be most all killed. Nom. Pik. Was killed
in the Larst Battle. I. have sleept with him
all the time I have ben in Camp and thee
the night before the Battle. I was Glad to
Git your miniature which was verey good but
Yow have worred to much. I shall keep it
Choice as my life. I want to you send the
Childrens. them stamps was Gust what
I wanted. send some more I. would
not send ey eney Box tl till we stopt
some where. th Boys are all doing well
in the hospital. the Cpt. will soon be
with us my mouth warters for that ketucp
and Chery. you had better Git help
wash them Beer Jugs and Put them up
stares theres is. 2. or 3 doz at Bartletts. bout
the same at Rogerss
[page 3]
Chees is 25 cts a Pound Butter 50 ct
Poor at that I have washed my shirt
once I Put on my Blouce while I it
was was driings how is mothers and
all the folks Giv my respects to all
G how inquire I must Closs send this

Good by

James Pratt