Columbus Ohio
April the 21st 1862
Dear brother
it is with pleasure that I avale
my Self of the opertunity of droping you a
few lines which will inform you that I
am quite well at present hoping these
few lines may find you and family in
the enjoyment of the same like blessing
dear brother it has bin Some time cince I
have had the chance of addressing by letter
as I was taken prisnor at Fort doneldson
after a tremendious fight our hole forces
was Surrenderd by jeneral G Piller [1] where
as we officers of the of the different
Redgments was Sent to camp chase near
Columbus Ohio the privates Sent to Indianoplas
the capital of the State of Indiania ,
and dear brother and familey connections
I can Say in truth that altho I am a prisnor
of ware I am faring fineley also the Rest of our
company where Levi is I get letters from
him and the Rest of the boys and tha are
enjoying themselves very well in deede
our bill of fair corn meal flower bacon poark
beef chopt hominey coffee sugar nice white
washed Roomes to live in 4 acres of land to
Range on the federals also gives us clothing
and shoes & socks good stoaves to cook on
nothing to doo but cook eate sleepe Read
I am nealey through my testament the second
time and wash our clothes bed clothing and
washing utencials and material all furnishe
d fine hospittals for our Sick well furnished
[page 2]
with bedding and victuals Sutible for sick
Some 40 or .50. Southren doctors hoo are
prisnors here medicens all furnished and in a
word we are faring as well as I could wish
were it not that I am deprived of hering from
all my friends but as we cannot be of any
service to each other while the ware continues
let us be contented with our lot let it be cast
where it may So father mother brothers & sisters
doo not give your Selves any uneaseness on
mine and Levies acount for I asure you
that we are dooing much better that if we
were in the armey . I hope it may not be
very long till we will all be enabled to
Return home in a familey capasity. dear
Green . take good ceare of your Self and the old
foalks tile Return home I entend to take
ceare of them then my Self, Give my love
to every one of the children and father & mother
go and Read this letter to Jack and tell hime
god bless his sole I want to see hime verry
bad indeede. My Respects to aunt Beck aunt
Patsey Buchanan and all the neighbor girles
and Reserve a good portion of my love for
your Self I now close by ascibing
my Self your affectionate Brother
till deathe
Charles .A. Ray

Govener Tod pleas approve this and
oblige mee your humble servent
C.A. Ray