No 24 Newport News Va March 9th [1863]

Deare Wife I. write you a few Lines to Let you
That I am well and hope this will Fiend you
The same I. received your Letter Last night
No 35. Not time enought to Celerbreate your
Birth day I. had not Forget it I. was speaking
Obout it you say yow Shall be a old Crone. If
you Was Prehaps my eys would not see it I. do not
Think yow will look eyey eny older then I.
Shall be a Poor broken dwon old man will you
owen me. will my Chrildren own me if not
I. Should have rather Left my Bones in Va but but
But I. Trust I. have freinds Near and Dear
Freinds Which will never fosake me
It hase ben very warm and Plesant to day
But stormey when I. Got up this moring It
Plesant yesterday thundur Tempest in the
Moring sunday you May heare there is many
Dieing of heare it is even so but Not so in
Mss. Rigts. but very feew hav died in this
Rigt. but the 11th N. H. Many die with the
Measels which is in a stons throw our Co.
one in our Co. has Got it E. Trufant from the Landing
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Geat many have died in 11th N. H. 12 or 15 I should
think all most Every day we heare the solum
role of the muffled fife Drur some tim tow three
Times a day with Co. to wich they belong folering
M After with a read red Coffin Put tghathar
With Board nails. Lester wants to Now abut
Darkes thers is w Gwreat of them with Baskets
Selling Pies Puding Caks rice Pies Batterd oisters
Some in horse Carts Drwan by a mule Darkey
Man and woman some selling cider 5 cts a Glass
they Carry thery Baskets on there heads with
Out to[u]ching them real Darkes some Geat tall ones
Sho[r]t fat ones some with a Black Pipe women smoking
Tusday the 10th to day it rains I. am deatailed
For Guard the outer Guard in taken of[f] but
few have to stand I. have to stand ready
to day if eny one is sick but releived
To night. I. received your money 25 cts
Got some oisters monday had for supper
one Pint that was a sad afair at Hingham
But I. do not Blame him eny woman that
Loves her Children will not do such a thing
I. am not afarid of finding such a thing If I. did I.
would spank you
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My neck tie is good as ever I. did not Put
it on for a Good while I. should like
some Good Paper to read the Flag or some
such a Papper tell Elisha Francis to send
Me one. or James Lovel. tell Ehisl Elisha
to send Me me Papper of the Banenerner of
Light there is two in the tent that have
taken it we have no reading but little Bits
of tracks Published by the Track soicity
I. Should like to see how the Freeman look
But had Better sopet do not Pay one cent
I. have sufferd enough to Beghin squar
When I. Git home I. do not Git my Pay
Do not be afarid of them you want some Cloth
And must have it I. s[t]ill think we Shall
Git our Pay soon Francis feels Pritty smart
he does not look ey eny Better then rest of
us. hardly that I. would lilke to have you
Git the rust of[f] that machean take some
kerseon that will thake of[f] I Glad you did
Not Lett Fisher have it. I. must Git ready
to Go the Guard tent to stay two hours. From your
Old man James Pratt kiss for all