Camp 50th Va Inft.
March 20th 1864
Dear Elizabeth,
Through th Mercy of a
Kind Providence, I am Blessed with
oppertunity to write to you this
Evening, to inform you now I am geting
along at presant. I have recovereed
from my Spell of Jaundice and I
am now in as good health as I have
been this winter
I can inform you I received your kind
letter written on 12 & 13th and deliv
-ered by Mr Robertson. I also received
one by mail a few days before bearing
date 6th I was indeed glad to hear
you was getting on as well as you are
I hope you will make out with
out Suffering for Something to live
on though you did not Say how your
grain heald out. I fear badly, as you
have had to feed your hogs all
winter; I think you will have rou
ghness Enough to do your Stock,
[page 2]
it seems by your letter that
you have declaired me a Can[did?]
ate for Justice, which was all
right Though you need not [Set?]
your self up with my Election
for I see they intend to raise the
question of the war a gain[st?] me
you would proberably be surprised
if I tell you that Mary Harrell
in a letter to the Boys from
Henry Robertson expressed the very
kind hope that I would fail to
be Elected and have to stay in the
Army untel the war ends but
you know how to make allowance
for her. I only write this so
as to put you on your guard in
talking to them but I want you
to be on your guard and not get
made let them say what they will
only if they tell any thing that is
false correct it in as mild a maner
and dignity always reserve a good
Self freedom of opinion and
[page 3]
others the same liberty do not
beg any one to vote for me, but
tell all to use their own will
in voting, for th[us?] [it?] thiss it be
comes every Free man:
I have wwritten to several of mh
Friends on the other side of the
mountain; though I cant tell
whether they will do any thing for
me or not I wrote to Buck Dillion
James A Taylot John S Adams Esqs and
Daniel Conner, I would like for Pa
to [??]to see the Hat[?]ers as him and
[??????] to be on very intimate
terms. I believe there is two of them
lives in the District, you said that
Thomas Smith was spoken of as also
going to run: let as many run as
will, dont withdraw my name
do not take sides with none
of the candidates, I had rather
have Randolphs influence below
the mountain, than any body out
the other side of our house
do not give nor expect to beet him,
I hope Tom Smith will not run;
[page 4]
I must quit writing about Elections
and write some to the Children
Mary Agnes I was glad to see you
was in good spirits and attending
to your stock. I must praise you some
for your letters, you write a very good one
if you would learn to commence your
letters and leave out them old fashion
ed remarks about health, you should
[learn?] to commence your letters some
times one way and sometimes another,
just as the circumstances of the case
may demand; Mr Abe T Lawson spoke
in high terms of your hand write,
Benton also praised you mightily.
Willie I was very well pleased with
your letter, I could read it vary well
and hope you will keep improveing
every day. Johny you wanted to know if
I wanted you to brake nick. you need
not be at that trouble, as you will have
enough to do without it, I was vary much
surprised to hear of Esqr Caffee being over
at our house, but Ike Tipton says his
mind is not right, he is so old he cant [??]
to do any good I expect..
I must close. do not let time things take
too great hold on you; but try and
look to God for his Mercies [??]
what Shall a man give in exchange
for his Soul, but watch and pray that
ye enter not into temptation
Kiss Lee for me and tell him be a good
Boy, So I remain your until Death
J. B. Shelor
There was man shot yesterday
in this Brigade for Desertion
But I did not go to see him as
I had to atend to drawing rations