1862
Camps down on James River 8 miles from
Dear wife I take my pen in hand Richmond Aug 12th
to drop you afew lines to inform you I am well
I receive your letter to day wich inform me you was
all well last Sunday yours of the 10 has bin of more
intrest than common I am glad to here that Lely [1] is 
so pretty & Smart I hope you will lern him all
you can I hope the ware will close Soon So I can
go home & Se you & tell you the news for I cant
write what I See & here wee have to move once a
weake the Regment move last Sunday about 5 miles
I never went tel monday & to day we have move
3 thr miles to work on a brest work you here
more newes I recon than I do though I will
give my opinion about a nuther fight here
I dont think ther will be any more figh[t]ing
here Soon if ever we are well forted fide
here but it duse but little good for we
cant never get to fight at them nothing more
about that we think we have ahard time but
we have aplenty to eat Such as bred & meat I
get mite tirde of it you think of me no more
than I do of you you hope that I had got all
your letter I dont recollect how menny
I have got though I now I have not got that
many by male Elis & west brout me some
I have got one from your Pa by male
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[page 2]
you Spoke Sending me Some butter
& honey I Should be glad to get it
Sure when I was Sick I bought
alittle butter & pade 100 dollar a pound [one dollar]
for it I cant tell you about
nun of the boys only John [2] & 
Ben Kite [3] they are not well but
not vary sick John has the
diare – Ben the jaw ake I hope the
others boys is doing well I must close
I hope to here from you a gain
Soon your truly untel deth
Mrs E. F. Thornton Hiram H. Thornton

[added at bottom of page]
we dont work on Sunday but
move about to be ready