Townsends Bridge Ky
July the 21st 1863
Dear Cousin
It is with
pleasur that I take my
pen in hand to to
scrible you a few
lines in order to let
you know that I
am still enjoying
good helth and I hope
that these few lines
may find you enjoy
ing the same blessings
Well Mary Jane I have
not much to write this time
so I thought that I
would try to write you a
few lines so to sho
you that my will is good,
[page 2]
I have picked out you
a nice little man here
he is as good a fellow
as is in the company
and good looking also,
he was calling me brother
n law and I told
him I had no sister
but I had a cousin
for him but did not
tell him who she was
so he has a sister
so it is all rigt
eny way,
We presed in six cows
for us so we have
milk twice a day.
I have been on guard
last night and got a
good ducking so it
will make me grow
We have been work—
ing for old Morgan
[page 3]
a round this way from
Ohio but I guess we
will have to give him
up for he wont get
out as easy as he
went in, for the
word is now that
his forse is nearly
all captured,

Well I must close
for this time write
soon and look over
this poor letter for
it is such poor writing

Stephen Johnston
To his dear and
never forgoten Cousin
Mary
Jane