Townsend Bridge
June the, 10, 1863
My Dear Cousin Mary
Jane It is with the
greatest of pleasur that
I take my pen in
hand to scrible you
a few lines in order to
let you know that
I am still well and
enjoying good health and
I hope that these few
lines may find you
all the same

Well Mary Jane I
got a letter from you
last Monday and was very
glad to hear from you
for I dont get verry
many letters eny more
for I guess all the folks
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have forgoten me but
my mother and you
and couple more of my
cousins but I gess the
war will end pretty
soon and I will make
them think of me
a gain Well Mary
Jane you need not be
bothering your self
of looking for us home
for I dont expect to
gow home till the
war ends for the
ferlows has played out
again, I expect we will
will be moved from
hear soon for I think
that is the reason
that the[y] stoped the
ferlows, I like to
hear of your union
meeting, but there
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is one thing I would
like to be at the
meeting at Celina
I understood there was
going to be a mob of
butternuts there so
I could spill some of
there blood if I
was there,

Well I must close this
poor letter for I expect you
will betierd of it before
you get it read,
Give my best respects
to all and write
soon and tell your
father to write as
soon as he gets back
Remember your
affecttionate Cousin

Stephen Johnston