[added at top of page]
rite me wether you ever got the seed I sent you

                                            the
Camp nere Wilmington N.C Jan 17 1862
Dear Margaret I Seat my Self
this Eavning to rite you a gane
this leaves me well hopeing it
will find you engoying the
Same blessing the fight begun
here yesterday morning at day
light and it was a study
connon aiding until 12 Oclock
when the yanks raised the
white flags on two of there
Gun boats and Surrendered
the most of ther Cargoes was
destroyed and lost tha threw
all tha Could over board I dont
no how many Prisners exacly
but a good many thare was
a good many come shore and
giv up thare is lots of the prisners
in our Camp now and a good
many bin sent on to town
I talked with Sum of them tha
Say Dam the war nothing
but neadcesity brought them
in it tha Say the common
-ality of the northern people are tireed
of it now
[written along right hand side]
my close fits the best kind and tha come in a
good time shore it very cold
[page 2]
we are Camped about 6 miles from
wilmington on Masonboro Sound
about 3 miles from the Atlantic
Ocean the fight was Just three
myles from here I was down
on the beach about a mile
from where tha was fighting
I seen booms bursting and
the balls when tha would
strike it was and awful
Racket Shore Calup Bowen
Just got to us yesterday eavning
he brought me a letter and
I was very glad to here from you
for I had not herd from you
since the letter you sent by
Jack I have rote you a bout a
dosen letters Si[n]ce I come here the
first time & have not got any
answer rite soon I want to here
from [you] the worst kind the report
is that thare larges forces langing [1]
close by if it is so we will have hot
work soon give peter Turner my best respects
if he ante gone tell him to rite to me Soon
if wade has come tell him to rite to me
give my respect and best love to the childering
so no more only remain yours
ever loveing husband u[n]tel death AJ White
I had to rite this on my nee