Parris Island Feb 18th 1863
Dear Mother
I thought I would write a few lines
to let you know that I am well at
present and I hope these lines may find
you the same ( we have bin paid off
and I thought I would send some of
it home I was paid four months
I kept a small portion of it for
myself) there was two companys of
the Regiment come to this place
yesterday and we took quarters in
a old cotton house it is a wet
morning it is a raining verry [???]
when when you get this letter
give the check to Isaac Vanleer and
he can draw the money when he
goes to West Chester I got a lot
of wrighting paper some whare in
east natmiel [1] but I dont know
who from it came verry good for
I was almost out
[page 2]
I got Ellens letter on the 10th
of this month and was glad
to hear from her there is a large
nunber of troops at this place
I also got a letter from william in
Verginia he was well when he w[r]ote
to me I also got a letter from
Samiel Handwork in North
carolina I will send my likeness
the first time I get the chance
to get it taken this is a [korse?]
looking cuntry
We have good grubb
and plenty of it there is a
hard set of custemers that came
with the expadition from the
north they burnt nearly all the
Nigro houses on the island
Well I must bring
my letter to a close by
asking you to write soon
[page 3]
From you son
to his Mother
John Guest