[1] 1863
Saturday Jen 21
Camp Near
Bell Plane VA

Dear Wife
I take this oppotunity
of writing a fiw lines
to you I hope thay
will finde you all
well as thay leave
us at present you
must excuse mee fore
not writing before
this I should hav
wrote But I was
on picket six days
I came in yesterday
afternoone so that I
hav not had much time
[page 2]
The weather has Bin
very Rugh hear this
last week wett and
cold the Roades are
in miserebel condishin
the toopes whare on
the moov But the
weather was so Bad that
thay had to halt
I do not know
what to make of
this moove thay hav
Bin held in redeness
fore some time
our Brigade was ready
and Pact up fore
two days days It
lookes like clearing
up once more the
sun is peeping out
Just Know
[page 3]
I think that this
moov is A meere
fant to draw the
rebles out as our
troopes all moove
to the right of our
lines our infintry
Blagard Burnsides
fore everything thare
seams to be a verey
Bad feeling hear
Just know some
say this is a nigrow
ware since this emanc
pashen came in forse
I think if thay [would?]
Pay them of[f] it would
giv Better satesfachen
I think that the mens
famleys wants it Bad
this winter thare aut
to Be somthing dun
[page 4]
The Pay master is hear
But weather he is gowing
to Pay us ore not I
canont tell It is
know seven months
in hand I am thinkg
of bying an old wach
if i can come across
one it is verey Bad fore
me to be with out
on gard ore Picket
I hav to gess at the time
everey two houres the
I will Bring these
fiw lines to a close
At present giv my
loove and respects
to All your
Afectnate Husband
William Band
good By and god
Bless you All