No 26 Newport News Va March 18 th [1863]

Dear Wife I sit dwon to rite you a few
Lines to Let you no that I. am well and hope you
Are All the same I. am sory to heare that Alty
Is sick but Glad he is no worse they have
Ben very Lucky I hope they will be I. should
Like to see the Boys once more It may never
Be my Privliage If not we Shall meet in a
We Shall meet in a world where there is no
Wars and fighting we Shall meet to Part
No more. we do not have very Good weather
heare now it aint Pleasant one day out of three
The rest Cold and Blusterng and Stormey
We had orders to Git ready to march Larst
Night about half Past 7 we Packed all up But
The order was Contarmanded about 9 oclock
We New not how or where we were to Go
you ask about that under shirt I. wore it
A spell and threw it away and another one
From the Goverment. one being with Otis
I. Could not keep Clear of the Bugs But
Doint have many now I. do not wear
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E[n]y Under Shirts now I have Got
The vest I. doint think eny one esceaps
Thoes animails it is Partly by Laing on
the Ground If i had known even this
I would not have Listed but I. Got
My hands tied and Cant help it but
It will soon slipe a way but I. Got
To see many hard times but I have
Sold my Self to U S. I. to day saw
Henery . Thonpson.s Wife I. a minuture
I. L. Torry had Come in knapsack
For the rest have Finialy Come
But there is many a Poor Soldier whoe
Was not heare Clame them the Contents
Was dived among the Co. I Got two
Towels fine Comb which I was Going
To send home for half bar of toillett
Soap Pocket hankehe handcerhaf I.
Traided one twoells for tow Pies 5 cts [??]ees
Therse is Ball to night at Norfolk
In honer of General Ferrero they
Go from here in Steamer I. have to
Received to night a letter From Elisha
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very Good letter I think I will send
to you be Caus I would like to keep it
he says Alty is Giting Better and around
In a few days I received your money
25 cts but doint distress your self I seen
No Pay Master yet I hope he be in a few
days we may Stay heare and may not
I have not Got the Pay for the shirt yet
I Sopoes I Shall not till Pay day
I think it is to Bad to keep us out of
Pay so Long I Shall anser Elisha
Letter soon as I Git Better Pen and
Ink I. was on Pickets monday night
About a mile half from Camp Near
Slave farmes there Masters run away
Or in the southern Armey the slaves
Have the Whole Care of the farmes but
union Armey taket Before it Gits ripe
Apples Potatoes Corn more on the Next
Time
A kiss for All Good By
James Pratt
[page 4]
I agree With Elisha about the Wagons
And you Can see Bartlett about it
I Could read all his Letter I Shall
Expect aletter to morrow night