Shelmount
tennesea July the 6 1862
Dear wife and mother
brother and sisters I
take my Seat this eavning
to addres you a fiew
lines which leaves me
well as com I had a
spell with my eye yestoday
but it was well this morning
they say that I have got
the camp millet but I dont
believe it I am broke out
alittle but it has not hurt
me any yet nor I dont
believe it will we
ar on the rockest hill
that you ever saw right
on the river and the
yankes on the other
side
[page 2]
and every day too [hole in page]
we can her the Canons
begin to rore like thunder
but we have not ben in
no fight yet tha ar
taking prisners evr
day we har grate nues
from Richmond bout
the fight thar I would
lik hear from home
tell Mr Marlow to
rite to us what
he noes a bout the
richmond figt and whither
france has de clarde our
independance or not
it is rumerd hear that
they have I want you
to rite to rite to me
as soon as you can and
gave me all the nues
[page 3]
that you can hear
that is good or bad
Caroline I want to hear
from you bad I want you
to rite ofton we ar in a
disolate plase hear rite on
the banke of the tennesee
river a bou twenty below
Chattanooga we ar now in
Marion County Shelmount
tennesee but when you
rite direct your letters to
Chattanooga tennesee
and then I will get them
Caroline the last letter
that I recievd from you
was a grate pleasure
to me and I would like
to get another on[e]
it will soon be dres
perade and I will qit
[page 4]
Caroline if you have
got my close dun
Just lay them a way
til I Cal for them
I have c[l]ose a nuf now
tell Mr Marlow
that R A and F W
is well and they
have not got any letter
yet and they ar wan
ting him to rite to
them and some of
you rite evry
weeke rite oftan and
rite all the nues
I must come to a
Close so nothing
more but remains
yours until death
W P Mangum