April 24 1863

Camp At Dumfries VA

My Dear Wife I
take this opportunity of
writting A few lines to
you I hope thay will
find you all well as
thay leave me At
Present I receved two
letters from you one
dated the 10 and the 17 i also receved
one from Hugh Rea
you seam to be giting
very uneasey about mee
and my arst I told
you all i could well
tell you in a letter
i also told Hugh Rea
in his letter I do not
[page 2]
Know what you want
me to tell you with
out you want me to
tell you some by you
know that i would not
do that I was releaved
last satturday by capt
Hess commanding the
rigment I hav bin
dowing Provost duty
since monday down
At the landing I hav
eight 8 men under me
thou I do not weather
i shall be thare steedy
ore not the landing is
five mile from hear
i am now in camp
writing this letter
[page 3]
I came up from the
landing last night fore
rashens I am gowing
down town to see the
Provost marshell then
i shall gow back to
the landing the landing
is At cock pit point
where the rebels had
there guns planted some
time agow on the Potomac
there is some of the old
guns thare yet spiked
thare is plenty of
fish about thare shad
and herring Hugh Rea
talks of coming down
to se me this summer
I would be glad to se
him if we stay here
[page 4]
tell Hugh Rea he cannot
list fore a black smith
thay do not list men
that away so that he
may save his troble
whin thay list men thay
list them fore soldiers
if thay can git to be
smiths ore any thing
else it is all but you
hav to do anything thay
put you At I will
be glad to tell you
more in my next letter
we hav a big bundel litters
fore the boys hear
your Affectnate
Husband Wm Band
Direct your letters same
the rigment gits no letters
thay all come hear