[1] Martinsburg va May 30th 1864

Dear Mother
I sit down
this pleasant Evening to write
you a few lines it being the
first oppertunity I have
hade for some time
I recieved your kind and
welcom letter last weeak and
I was glad to hear from
you, I came here from
the regiment last tuesday
the reason I came was that
I hant very well and was
not able to march
and they was a bout to
moce forward a gain
I Expect to go to the regiment
in a few days for I am a
bout well, I had nothing mor
[page 2]
than the direa, when I
left the regiment they ware
at Ceder Creek thirty sevon
miles from here but
since left they have
moved forward but have
not had aney more
fighting. I wrote to mary
the particulars a bout
it so it is not worth
while to write the same
a gain we had a prety
sharp fight but the rebels
was to strong for us
but still they did not
gain aney thing I think
thare loss was more
than what our was
we see hard times this
summer to what we have
saw we are doing our
best to crush the rebelion
and I hope it will
[page 3]
soon be don I think
this summer will End it
thare is maney that
will fall be fore it
is don
the news is Chearing
from all the armes
we have the gratust
Confidnse in
Gen Grant
I saw our Captin and
Colnol they have ben Exchanged
we are glad to see them
back for they are much
neaded at this preasant time
well I must Close for
this time I will write as
oftin as I can, I Rxpect
to go to the regiment in
a few days
you must write as oftin
as you can for I like to
[page 4]
hear from home
well I will close
my Love to all
Wm M Ellis

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