Cockle Town Camp Marian
              the
December 18 1861
Dear Father
I now take my pen in hand
to write you A few lines to let you no how
I am getting A long I am well at this
time and hope this to find you all the
same Benj is well and he is fatter than
I ever saw him in my life I am heavyer
than I ever was in my life my weight
is 165 pounds we have got our house
done we are in them now it is much
better than living in tents Dear Father
if I can be as well all the time as
I have been since I have had the
measels It is all I ask we get plenty
to eat and we dont have nothing
much to do I am satisfide hear if
I could sea you all that is what
bothers me Dear Father there is A great
deal of excitement hear now at this
time but I think it will be over
in a shorte time all our bagage is
sent up to yorke Town the reason of
it was done we are exspecting A fight
and we did not no but what we would
have to retreat and we did not want
to leave nothing for the yankees
to get but I think they will be
brought back in A few days Dear
Father I have not receved A letter from
you in A long time and I have
written to you several times I received
A letter from Sis yesterday evening
and you and mother has not written to
me for a long time I dont no
[page 2]
what to think of you I want to [you?]
and her to write [????] when you do write
Let me no all the news in general how
your crop is and your fatning hogs is
if you have got plenty hogs to meat
you this year or not and if you have
got the house is done or not there is
four of our company gone home on
furlow they will let four go when
they come back they will let four go at
A time the mairred men go first
then the privates we have to draw for
it to sea who goes firs I hope I
will be the first private that
goes home but I cant come
Chrisman and I dont no when I
can come for we will have the
Chances of drawing I may draw
first or I may draw last but
I will come as soon as I can [let]
you no our band of musick is made
up at last but they have got to
learn yet the teacher is hear now
teaching them Dear Father it is
night and geting late I must
close so good by till my
next nothing more at presant
I remain your affectionate
Son
J. M. Mobley