[this letter has no date, but the content suggests it was written sometime in early December 1864]

my dear I receved a letter from you to day and was
very glad to heare that you was well and
george receaved two to day and you said that
I did not State that I had had receaved aney
leters from home but I take the pleasure to inform
you that I have receaved six or seven letters
from you and I thought I had stated so in
almost evry letter for I have answerd evry one
and rote severl besids andswerd all requests
that you have requested I have rote evry
week and as I had not sent it off I would
rite a few lines in a hurry you tel Henry I
have a plenty of paper and he must be a good
boy and I will fetch him some thing pretty when
I come home and I have sent some postage stamp
in the last three or fore letters and as for clothing
I have a plenty at present I will let you no
if I nead aney i hope I can get a furlow by
the time I nead them and my head is just
a bout as it was when I left home good by my dear
wife your cincer husband and friend H.H.Bowen
[page 2]
george.W.Bowen to Mary E Bowen
dear wife I received your letter
to day with much Joy to hear
that you ware all well I had
Just wrote a letter to you and
seald it up but I will send you
a few lines in Henrys letter to let
you know I am well thank god
I got a letter to day from your
pa and Elizabeth and I was verry
glad to hear that they ware all
well and that Josephine was with
you yet and tell her that I do hope
she will stay with you til I get
home and give my love to her and
tell her I hope god will bless her
for her kind ness and I hope god
will bless you all amen I must
close for it is about night I will
try to put alittle to morrow for you
George.W. Bowen