Newbern N C July 31st [1862]
Dear Wife
as a Bout to Leave to morrow moring
with the mail i thought i would Pen a Line or two
two Let you know how i am i am the Same as usual
and i hope this Shall find you all well i Suppose
that you have got the things By the time how do you
Like the Pitcture and how did Nell Like her
fan i Suppose that She was Prowd of it i Should
want you to Send me in a Box i want a Pair of
Red flanell Shirts they are the Best to ware
out here i dont want you to Send anything
to eat for it will Cost you to much you Can
Send me out the Shirts in a Small Box you
Can get the Shirts all made i Suppose at Bal
[Cove?] or Some Clothing Store dont Send any
thing But what is most needed i dont
want you to go to Exspence you Can tell [???]
my [???] about the Shirts and i Should Like
a Little Sulfer that wont Cost much and a
Small Bottle of Houghton Elixer for the Stomac
h i Should that think that you go Could
get the Sulfer and Houghton for nothing
at the drugist well you Can fix it to
Suit yourself i had one of my dubble
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out this morning by the Surgeon it has Been
Plaugeing me for Some time and i didnot
Sleep much Last night with it So i went
up to the Hospittall and had it Puled and i
thought my head was off i tell you it
Came hard you know that my theeth were
always good well it is over know we are
having a Little Rain this afternoon well it
will make the Corn grow By the way you
had ought to See the Corn out here it grows
fifteen and Sixteen feet high i never Saw
anny thing Like it But after all it aint So
Sweet Corn as ours to eat well Summer
is about gone although it is Longer here than
at home But the Rebellion aint Crushed
yet and it will Be another Summer Before
it is has mass got all her men yet or
will they have to draft have you Seen
Parsons Last Letter you will Like it i
think well i Shall write a Short Letter
this time give my Love to aunt and mother
Father and all the folk and kis the young
Soldier and Nell and Lizzy for me
from your Husband
Joseph Barlow
i Shall Send this to you