Camp Marian Oct the 16 1861
Dear Father I recieve yore letter of the 2
on the 12 we hav moved from Camp wasington
york town to camp marian one mile from
Cockal town hear is much excitement
hear we are under general Magruder
he won the victory at bethel Church
we moved hear the 9th we mach a bout
5 miles last Sunday Magruder was trying to tole the [1]
yankees out of new port news our
pickets got in a den of the yankees
the other day one of capt Stovals men
got wonded Slightly he got a ball shot
in his saddle Skirt J Cheasboros horse was
shot from under him he hot holt of a [2]
Mule Som way an made his a Scape
Just the day 12 was takeen pris ners
they past by our legion the boys was
strung a longe the rode as the past an
hollowed with joy an said oh we hav
got you thair [????] was of we dond
Care davis will [???] us we air going to town of york to take
winters quarters in york town
General wol saids he is going to take [3]
winter quarters in york town but I
rather think he will take his
[page 2]
Winter quarters like them that
was going doyn the other day
we are in 6 miles of bethel Curch an
in 10 miles of the enemy you ask me why
I did not write you the bad news as well as
the good I hav an will we hav lost more
of our men N Smith and A Wallis is
dead Since I rote to you once we could
not turn out but 16 well men but the
most of them is well now we can by
plenty of potatos at $100 a bushal it is a
bout the only thing we can get we are
all buise now bilding winter huts
we all get plenty to eat beaf bacon flour
meal sugar coffee I am in good helth
James is in as good helth as you could
expec him now he has had the mesels I
exspec he has rote to you since he has got
well Now for the crops the people
hear is not don geathering crops I
saw Sevral Striping fodder to day I
no you wont be leav me but it is
so write to me soon a bout your Crops
hogs an evry thing elce it is not a gaints
the law to write what you pleas in camps
if you are caught writing one mile from
camps it is sirting death I hope this will
find you all are happ an free yours truly B. L. Mobley