the
July 4 1864
dear dear father and
moather I mi pen
in hand to drop
you A few loins
to let you no I am
well At this time
and truly hope
when theas few
loins cums to han
may find you al
well and doing
well duke is verry
Sick and he says he
would like for you
to cum and se him
if you can I am wi
th him I am takeing
kear of him we ar
in one mile of dinw
idde court house
[page 2]
15 mils north
west of Peters
burg V A near
dinwiddi court
house John you
I am A triing to
do the best I can
for duke I would
like to Se you al
and hope wil Soon
I think the war
wil Stop Soon Si we
can cum home So
I must cloas rit
Soon direct to
dinwidde cour
house v a So I
remain your lov
ing Son untel
death John H
Black to father mo