Thunderbolt Battery January 6th 1864
My Dear companion I Seat myself
to let you know that I am well and
hearty, hoping these lines may find you
and all the rest well. I have Just
come from the Island to get provision
I will start back in an hour
You Said in your Letter that uncle
Rily had a fine Boy well I
recon it was a funny frolic to See
the old man have a boy if you
had Said Aunt Maryann had a
boy it wold have been all right
I wonder who was there. I expect
Susan [???] was there.
I read the letter you wrote in Ans.
to the Letter I Sent by Mrs
Orear.. and was glad to hear you was all
well I have been on Wilmington
Island this morning, and will have
to go again in a day or 2 I went
out after Oysters this morning
we will have to go down on the
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lower side Scouting when we go
again to See if there is any yankees
on the Island. We heard that there
was 1,500 on Wilmington if they
are there we will find them
I Send 40. dollars by Mrs. Orear
to you and I did not write any
thing about it in the letter I sent
by her.. get all the tobacco you
can from Wash and keep it for
me I have got enough to do
me a while yet I shall want
a Shirt the first chance you
get to Send one I must
close as my time is out
write Soon if not Sooner
yours &c.
W.H. Harden