Camp Marian Cockle Town
         the
January 14 1862
Dear Father
I received your kind
letter A few days since and
was very glad to hear
from you and I now seat
my self to answer it well
I am well at this time
Benj is in good health
well I will tell you some
thing About the weather
in virginia Dear Father
it commence snowing yesterday
evening and this morning
it is yet at it it has
been snowing all night
so you can gess how it
is here it is A bout 9
oclock now and it is not
quit yet well the ground
is coverd with it and it
seams like it is not as
cold here as it is in georgia
it is colder here I now
but some how or other
[page 2]
it does not go as harde with
us as at it did there all the boys
say they dont suffer with
cold like they did in georgia
I reconn it is because we
did not dress thick like we
do heer or it is because
it stays cold all the time
and dont keep changeing
like it does there well now
I will talk About something
else well Dear Father I had
rather be where I am than
to be any where else in the
confederate army because we
have got such a good Colonel [1]
for Cobb is the best
Colonel in the confederate
states he dont let his men
stand garde when it is rain=
ing or when it is cold much
he lets them of[f] but the
other Regiments there colonels
make there men stand in
all sorts of weather so you
sea that Cobb is one of
[page 3]
the best of colonels I would
not quit him for no place
in the confederacy but the
boys does so bad his has them
put in the garde tent some
times he had some put in
the garde tent the other day
he kep them in there
till night and then he went
out there and told them
he would let them out so
he let them out and they
went that night and give
him a seranade because he
let them out and he give
them a treat he give them
some wine and cake but
he never has had meny in
the garde tent any any one
that thinks any thing of
him self wont do nothing
to be put there for he
has not had none but some
3 or four of our men in there
yet but he has to put som
of the cavelry in there
[page 4]
some times they do so bad
but if they would half to
they would not go there
Father the boys on our side
of the creek has got the
prase of be ing the best
soldiers in the company and
they are well yes tedday we had
the best whresling we have
had in some time our boys
come out the best our company
was whresling with Capt
Lauralls men but our men
throwed them down fast
Charly Madesett can throw
down any man in the
Legion he has not found
A man yet in the Legion
that can throw him yet
Father said you was going to
send me and Ben some things
well dont send me no more
clothing for we dont need
them well I must close I remain
your loving son J. Mobley
[added in top margin of page 3]
I would write more but the boys is out snow balling so I want to be with
them and I have sent all three leters so you must write to me Soon and
give me all the news