Camp Mearcy Nov 15 1861
my Dear wife
I now take the pleasure
of wrighting a few lines
to let you now that woe
are all well hoping thase
few lines will finde you
the same I hav just
receved your letter dated
the 13 and am glad to hear
that your ware all well
i hav got those fore stamps
you sent me this week
you want to now if we want
any thing we do not that
i now of thare is one
thing we want that is
to hav this thing settled
the men wants to be doing
sumthing I bought a paper
yesterday withe the hole
detales of our victory in
Beaufort we had just come
in of[f] drill it was dinner
time so i set down and
red it the boys ware
in thar glory to hear
of our victory
[page 2]
we are thinking of getting
up a secret expedishion
and coming home to charter
Allen Rodebacks vessel and
several others about thair
so you wimmen may get
ready fore we shall want
sum cooks and volenteers
you say i hav spoiled you
from working in the mill
you shall hav a job on
them boates when we
cum home
tell nutles i will take
a walk over a christmes
and help them to eate them
chickens
we are not pad yet we
expect it every day
i hav just come in of[f] picket
ill cut it shorte
your Husband
Wm Band