Near Culpeper Va.
April 27th 1864.
Mr G. W. Barrick
Dear Brother your
longed for letters came to
hand last Evening barring
date of the 17th which found
me well. and curious to peruse
a letter from you as your
letters are fiew and far between
Well Brother Lue told me
you was talking about comeing
to the Army but I would
advise you to stay where you
are for you have no idea
of the Hardships of a Soldier
you would have to do as
you are told if you was
here any how it is you place
to stay with Pap as He is
not able to see about eny thing
[page 2]
and when my time is out
if the war is not over you
will bee 16 months older and
likely of a different mind
but if you wish to go then
I wil say nothing to the contrary
but will take your place
and you can take mine
well G. W. by what Lue tells
me I suppose you will have
your self a women before
long but I dont want to
dance in the hog trough
Bully for Socky and old
Rachel. (Poor Aunt their is
another good chance gone.)
but I will bet this War
will be the cause of you getting
a man yet. G. W. Leu says
if you dont write to Him He
will not write you another
letter the Boys are all well
and in the bset of spirits.
[page 3]
G. W. I will send you
some thing else insted
of that likeness if I could
of got another I would of
said nothing a bout it but
I had told Mother before
that was for Hen and Lue
got it as He come back and
I did not tell Him where
to send it. I will close for
this time Hopeing you will
write soon.
Eli Barrick

Tell Em I will write Her
a little in a fiew days.