[1] Headquarters Camp Stone Camp 6

November 2 1862
Dear cousin Mary Jane

I received
your kind lette of the 26 inst
and was glad to hear from you
it was so long since I had
heard from you that I
thogt you had forgoten me
but I was mistaken
I am well at present
[page 2]
and I hope when those
few bad written lines comes
to hand that they may find
you all the same

We are now garding
a rail road bridge in Kentucky
You can tel my Harriet
that there is better girls than
her in old mercer yet.
I am very well contened here
for it is a nice place here
for to winter but we dont know
whether we will stay here or not
There is plenty of turkey here
the boys goes out once and
a while and “jahawks” some
turkeys Captain was away
last night and the boys went
out and brot in about a
dozen of turkey and we had plenty
for brakefast and dinner too
I reckon Same and John is putting
the girls thogh on the fast line
[page 3]
and if I was their the way
I would put them that it would be a
causion Some of them
I suppose will will be married
gin I get back but I guess
their will be one left for me
I expect to be home some time
thogh the winter and see you all

Henry and John was both
sick but but they are well now
they are both on gard to day
I expect you have been too
meeting to day we hardly know
what meeting is here for we
have not been there for so
long Now Mary Jane
I must leve off and you must
not wate for me to write
write as soon as you can and
I will do the same

Give my respect to
all and take a portion your
self your affecttionate cousin

Stephen Johnston
[page 4]
P.S. Direct the same

as you did the oher letter

your cousin

S…n J…n