Apral the 8 63
Camp ner vixburg
Dear Companion it is through
the kindness of our god I am
promitid this morning to rite
you a fiew lines and to rite
that I am well I think that
I am enJoying as good helth at
this time as i ever did in
my life I recievd your letter
dated the 31 of march and was
glad to hear from you and to
hear that you and the rest
of the folks was all well
I saw B L the other day and
they was well I Can read
all that I can get after a while
you must rite oftain and that
will gave you and me both
practis I wold like to bea
with you but contrary to
my will I cannot at this
time but I hope soon will
pleas turn over
[page 2]
we ar on the mississippi
river near the mouth of the
Yazoo river whar the yankes
is trying to land but I
do not think that they
ever can do any thing hear
we may not stay hear long
we may take up the line
of march in to arcanses texes
or Caintucky and if we do
I dont think that we will
start be fore may or June I hope
that I will get to cum home
this spring and sea you but
I fear I will not s m brooks
has not got so he can walk
mutch yet but I think he soon
will give my best respects
to all that inqire after me
and tell them to rite to me
so far well for the presant
W.P. Mangum to L.C. Mangum
[page 3]
Dear mother after my best
respects to you I can
inform you that I recievd
a letter from L. C. Pool
she rote to me that
marthy was dead it greavd
me mutch for hir husban
is a fine man I have not
saw him since tho he
rote mea letter he appeard
to bea in grate distress
but it appears like this
is a world of trouble
and evry on[e] havs to bar
thir part
we will draw 15 dollars
per month from the
first of January last
you must rite to
me oftain I have got
letters regularer since
[page 4]
I have bin at vicksburg
than I ever have since
I have bin out
so I will Close for
this time so nothing
more but remains your
son til death farwell
for the presant
so I will Close by
assinig my name
W.P. Mangum
To L.C. Mangum
and Elzy Mangum
M L Catlett