Goldsboro NC

April 3^rd 1865
Dear Friend Anne;
It is with pleasure
That I take this opertunity
of writing a few lines in
answer to your very welcome
and highly interesting letter
of the 25^th of Jan that I
received a few days ago
and was truly glad to
hear from you again.
I expect you think it
has been a long time since
I last wrote to you and
indeed it has but I could
not write eny sooner as we
wer on the move and had
no communication with
the North. We have come
a long way since I last
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wrote to you. We had a
very nice and easy time of
it with the exception of one
sad event which occured
on the 20^th of March a lot
of us was out foraging
and was surprised by the
rebles and four of our
squad taken prisoners
Isaac Wilkinson was one
of the four that was taken.
I feel very lonesum without
Isaac he was my partner
and mess mate and was as
fine a fellow and as brave
a soldier as ever shouldered
a musket in the defense
of his country
You spoke in your letter
of the nice times you had
Christmas times I would
like to have been with
you but that was out of the
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question but I think if nothing
happens the war will be
over so I can be with you
next Christmas.
As reguards the chan
ces of marrage I think you
have two chances to my one
as James is left yet maybe
you do not know James but
I am well acquainted with
him. I think if Phebe has
to wait untill I mend her
shoe she will have to go
barefooted some times and
if I was to mend it I do
not think I would be wil
ling to take the pay you say
she would like to give me.
I saw your father a
few ago he was well
and hearty he is at
Kingston N.C which is about
thirty miles South of here.
[page 4]
I can think of nothing
more of interest to write
so I will close for the
present,
Hopeing to hear
from you soon I remain
as ever your true friend
Eli Phillips
N.B Direct your
letters to

Co. B Detachment
37^th Ind vols
3^rd Brigade 2^nd Division
14^th A C
Via New York City