[ink very faded]
1864
[Cook?] [Camp?] [Marietta?]Ga June the 4
Dear and esteamed wife I will [try too?] rite you a
fiew lines to relive your mind and to
let you no that I am yet alive and well
and harty and gets aplenty to eat tho
I am a Cook and you no that they ar not
apt to suffer I have nothing of intrest
to rite to you tho I must [express?] that
I have slited you but beg to be excused
for I havent had the chance to rest or rite
[???] [to?] be latly and I am out of paper now
and dont no when I will get any more
tho I will have some som som way we have bin
fighting a bout 28 days and thar has bin one
man killed in the 34 Regt and but fiew wounded
tho we have lost a heap of men from other
commands and the yankes have too this has
bin a auful time and I dont look for it to
ever be much better til peas is made
I dont think the army ever will be
stationed again I rote you a line at [??]worth
I hope you got it
[page 2]
I recieved a letter from brother
[J?] Catlett dated may the 19 he was
well and rote that had drove the
federal forces thir f[r]ont he had ben
struck by two balls on the left sholder
and lag tho did not disable him for
duty I was proud to hear from him I havent
had a line from you sinc the 16 of may
I hope to hear from you in a fiew day
Tel huldy that I do not no whether
S M have heard from hir or not or whether
he has rote or not I havent saw him
nor the companey in 15 days tho he is well
I wold like to rite a heap but I must
git tho I will beg you and friends if
any to rite to me i do not have the
chance to rite much excuse my awful letter
and read it if you can it is acordain to
my chance So I will close pray for me and
for this cruel war to end far well dear
wife I hope to sea you before long
W. P. Mangum

To Mrs L. C. Mangum
rest contented a bout me and remember
the lord is wating to be gracious