No 32 Whinchester Ky April 20th [1863]

Deare Wife As I have a little tim I will
Write you a few lines to let you No that
I am well hope you are the same I hope Alty
Hase Got better Poor Sick Boy I Pitty him to
Be Sick so much but I hope Got will
Spare him Amd the rest of the Boys
That they may Be a Comfort in our
Oald age. and May we do All we Cane
For aur Mouthers Whatever Sackafise It
May Be. Giv my respects to my and your
Mouther tell them I Should lik to se
Them very much we have had very
Good time heare sence we Got aur money
I have had Every thing I wanted but
I doint no how to Eat it is So long
Sence I have Eate a table when I Git
home I Shall have to set on the floor
And lay dwon my knife and forke
And Eat with my have my Coffee
In my dipper Put my Plate on the floor
[page 2]
Go to Mr Henerys Spring to Git my
Warter then Git some railles and make
A fire out. doors the farmes are all
fenced with raills and no Post What is
Called the .Va. fence about 10 to 12 raills
In a Pair After this form ∧∧∧∧∧∧∧
A Sad axadent hapend this moring
to our quarter Master he fell of[f] his
Horse and Borke his arme. the fence
on the Pikes or roade is the same
as ours but Stronger Good deal of
the way is very nice faced wall
Which slate stone dug out of the
Ground as there is no stone on the top of
the Ghround. I went to Ghround
Brook saturday and whashed Shirt and
Draswers and Stockings had a kittlle
Fire and hot warter and Boilled
them. thes Pikes are roads made of stone
Pounded up fine and dirt sperad
over them
[page 3]
Which makes a very Good road to
Walk on it is very hard. What would
you think of walking on such a road
for 20. miles walled and fenced all
the way the houshes a quarter of
Mile or more a Part. the darkes come
in heare sundays they Canonot Come
Enny other time because they are slaves
there was fun heare yesterday Soon
As a darkey Poped his head in sight
the Boys would run to Meet him
hardly one Got in Campe before he
Sold out Pies are very Good heare
in Ky. there ar most all men and
Boys I have sent a Pictur to you
Which Cost one dollar tl taken sunday
[1] I doint no as you will no it but it is the same man that hase slepp with you
There was a Geart rush but I stuck
to it and watted for tow or three
Hours the sl[???]n is whright on the
Feild I. was afarid we should have
to march I doint no how long we stay hear
[page 4]
We Cannot Git so many Eggs as
We want which are 25 ct a doz Buttur
50 cts Ches 30 ct Pies from 5 to 25 ct
We have Got New Shelter tent which
Does very well for Summer doblle tent
With four. I hope I Shall Git
A letter from you to night to heer
From Alty and the rest of you
I am so thankfull you have Got
So many freinds to help it Gives
Me Couradge time is wearing away
And if God spares me I Shall soon
Be to home . Beny was with us and we
Left him to Paris he is very slim.

Whrit long and often tell Lester
to write to me a kiss for all
Good By from your Ever
True hushband.
James Pratt