1863
No 31 Whinchester Ky April 18.

Deare Wife Still .live. and well after a long
March of a bout 20 miles the 16th about dark we
Had ourders to march we was orderd to Pack Every
thing and be ready to march but not to Stroke
Tents we lay dwon and Sleep very little 2 oclock
In the moring we had orders to strik tents half
Parst 3 we Started and marched about 2 miles to
Twon we march through mount Sterling about day
light and on we marched till 7 O clock with our
Knapsacks then we Pressed a Pair of oxen to Cary our then
For ws we arived at the viladge at two Clock quirt a
the houshes built Neare to Gaorther the Same as
Citys we went towo miles beyound and Camped
In a Plesant Grove I am laying on the Green
Grass and keeping mooving to Git out of the sun
We was bery tiard last night but the worst
of it was we was to be Paid of[f] that day the
11th N. H. Got the day be fore but the Pay
Master is heare Paying of[f] the 51st N. York we are
To be Paid this after noon. I sopoes there will
be a Chance to buy Pies and Cakes heare and
there is two soilders suttlurs heare
[page 2]
I received your letter April 8th No 43
And very Sorry to hear Alty was sick but I
God will spare him for he moves in mistireus
Ways I hope you will not Git sick I am
Very Glad to hear you have freinds Enought
Freinds to help you v Giv them my thanks
And may God Bless them we Canot Git a male
b very often heare but you must write as often
As you Can if Eney of my famliy are to be
Taken away I must make tha Best of it but
It would be a seaver stroke as my love
Groes Stronger Every day I can realeais
What a Parint feelings is and young folks
Must Put up a Gheart deal with oald folks
I think we have ben to hasty in a Gheart
Many things and may we Put up with many
things thinking we are to oald aur selfs you think
this war will soon be Settled but I Conot
See it I hope it will I. will hear state
What Battles I have Ben in that you may
No if you should never Come home. I hope
God will spare me to return home
[page 3]
I have ben in the Battles of south
Mountain. Antaeam. sept 14th & 17. Fredreckburg
Dec 13th scerimesk at sulpher springs November 15
the three years will weare away and I Shall
Be at home if God spares me
sunday Moring 19th alive and well a belly full
Boilled Eeegs Cookes Chees Cocentrate Milk Coffee. Peach
And Custerd Pie for Breakfast the Best I had
Sence I Came in to the Armey we fianaly Got
Our Pay a New Suttlur Come with a Whole
Load of S[t]uff we Made arangments to Send
It home by Mayor Fay which I. think you
Rceive From the slectmem I Send $40.00 dollars
I received $52.00. I keep $12.00 you may
think It to much but it is so handy on
March two munth due first of May but
you Need it I. Send Some More
2d Brigade 9th Armey Corps L Genreal
Hartsworth 2d Divsion Magor King
A kiss for Aall Good By

James Pratt