Dalton Gea
March 3the 1864
Dear mat I reseved your very
Kind letter and was glad to
hear that you and the children
was as well of[f] as you are but was
very sorry to heare of the death
of our little babe but one thing
that Consoles me I know that
She is better of[f] bless her little sole
well mat my deare wife this
leves me well in beter health than
I have bin since last sept tember
and I do hope if it is god will
that I may kepe so and I do
hope that these lines may find
you and the children all well
Dear mat when I rote you before
it was a very Glomey time though
the yankeys fel back tords cha
tanuga and we to owr old camp
and the times is Still know
god only knose how long it may last
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my Deare mat I have 80 Dollars
to send you as soon as I Can get
the chance and I want you to lay
it owt in somthing to eat and
salt as after the first of April
it will lose 33 cts in the Dolar
you had beter get some more flower
you know that you Could Sell
som wheat if it hit well you
might keepe all bill of 500 Dollars
and under as they do know lose
eny thing mat I want you to get
Mr Gilbert to sel my Shoes if
you Can to get as much as he Can
well my Deare mat for that name
is Deare to me than eny other on
earth trust in god and try to
do the best you Can tell the chil
dren all howdy and give my
best love to all and keepe a plenty
for your self and may god
bles you and kepe you from all
harme is my prare so I remain
your Deare husband
John Mc