Camp Pine thicket

Feb the 20th 1862
Dear cousine it is with pleasure
that I seat my self too let
you hear that I am well and
I hope these few lines will find
you the same I received a letter
from you the other day I say
I did I and John did and it was
the first one in a long time
and I had come too the conclusion
that you had quit writing but
at last it come and I was
glad too hear from you. Mary
I have no newse too write too you
at this time only we are looking
for orders too go too richmond
but I hope we wont get them
yet for we have the worst wether
you ever seen for it snowse a
bout twist a weak and rains
the balance of the time and the
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roads is the worst sort and I
dont think we could get our
batry too richmond if we
was to get orders but enuff
of that you wrote too us too
get some flax seed and send them
to uncle richard but I cant
find eny but if I doo find eny
I will send them too him the
first chance I get and if I dont
Mary Jim has not got hear yet
he got too Petersburg and then
got orders too go back too north
carolina and I have not
heard from them since they left
petersburg Jim wrote mee a letter
while he was thare he was well
and he said that he would
try too get a furlow and come too
our camps but I dont think
they will let him off
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Mary from what I can hear the
yankees is a going too try too take
charlston but I hope that they will
get a good whipping I think
the yankees is satis fied that they
cant take richmond for it aint
hard too whip them now for
we have whip them so much
that they cant fight hard and
I think the war will soon end for
they are getting up negra regiments
and that is enuff too show that
they are whiped Mary you said
something a bout some specticles
that was in the trunk that we
sent home and you said that
Ma wanted them and you
said that you would not give
them up until you let us know
and hear what we had too Say a
bout it as for my self I say
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let her have them for they
will doo us no good and Ma
can take care of them. so enuff
of that when you write let mee
know whether Ag and dave did
mary or not and if they
did I want all you girls too
serenade them. tell all the
girls houdy for mee and tell
them that I have not for
got them yet nor wont if the
war lasts 10 years yet give
my love too all my cnection and
friends and largely your
self so good bye
Joseph M Little too
Mary E.. Pendrey
Write as soon as you get
this