Campe 37 Rgt Gea voln
Neare Dalton Gea April 16th 1864
My Dear wife
as I Shal go on picket to morow
morning and be out to days and
knights I take this presant times
to drop you a fwe lines as I wish
to keepe one on the rode all the time
to one that I a dore and love above
all others on this earth well mat
this leves me a good eal beter of[f]
than I was when I stated the other
leter and I hope by the time this
reaches you that I shal be all right
a gain and I do wish and pray
that it may reach you in safty
and find you and the children
all well mat my Deare I
have kno nuse to right if you
have knot started the box when
you get this I want you to send
me a pare of socks as I have
but one pare that is fit to ware
[page 2]
mat if you send the box send
just such things as you Can and
do knot send much as it may
never get it my Dear mat send
me Som Cakes to Sel if you Can
get the material Convenant as I
am shorte of money as I Can make
a good profit on them mat starte
a letter som day or to be fore you
starte the box so we may be on the
looke out well mat I for get to
metion the flower that I got in
your letter but I do it in this I have
it and the other one in my testament
and when I reade I all ways turn
to them and lock at them and think
of the deare hands that has had hold
of them well mat I sent you
alittle track [1] the Solders bible
in my other leter I want you to
reade it and take good Care of
it for my Sake mat right
me if you get the ring that
[page 3]
I sent in the other leter and the
paper know my Deare mat you
Cant have no excuse for know
righting as I will keep you in paper
and I want you to keep one on the
rode all the time as I would like
to heare from one that I love more
then tong Can express evry oure mat
right long letters and right all
your little afares and how you are
getting along and dont say my dear
John I have know nuse that will
interrest you for eny thing interest
me from one that is all ways in my
thoughts mat I would give that
world if I had it to be with you
and my pore little children but a kind
providence has orderd it other wise
and I lock forard for beter days
and that is what Consoles me that
I may yet be sparde to see you
all a gain mat tell the children
all howdy and tell them that
[page 4]
I never for get them tell them
to be good children and learn thare
books tell swe to be a smarte gearl
and to healpe you all She Can and
to kepe Clean and nise mat I want
you to make me a pare of pants if
you Can I now you will do it
mat be Share to right I have knot
had aleter since the one you rote to
Come by Kerklin well mat
Keepe your sperets up and trust
in the good lorde and do your duty
and all things will Come right
and prey to the lorde that your
deare husband may try by the
heape of him to do his duty heare
on earth well mat my Dearst
object remember me and bleve
that I am one the has your welfare
always at harte and once that
wishes you well above all others
on this earth may god bles you
as my prare John McCorkle