v.a.
Camp near Kellys Ford
November 1st 1863
Dear Pappa Ma and Mit

As Brother [1] are going
to start home in the morning
I will write you A few lines
to inform you that I am well
and harty and I hope that
those few lines may find you
all the same. I have ben
expectting A letter for several days
past but havent received one yet
I wrote you A letter some
since giving you all the news
concerning our last raid nothing
new havent occured since that
is worth writing Brother can
give and tell you all the news
that is circulating through this
part of the world
Brother has ben very sick for
[page 2]
A few days past the Regt
went on picket to stay two days
and the Doctor left me to wait
upon him. so I am more
than glad that he are going to
get out of the army for he cant
do eny good here and it will
be grattifing to you all very much
for him to be at home whare he
can be A great deal more benefit
to himself and to you all than
he can by staing heare. for heare
he is deprived of the comforts of
life when thare is no use of it
well it is useless for me to state
enything farther about the enjoyme
nts that he can enjoy thare when
he cannot heare..
So I will give you the programe
of what I want you to send
to me by John Grissom when
he com[??]articles [??] send me
my coat that I sent home
[page 3]
and 2 pare of socks and
I believe that that is all
the things that I want in the
Close lines and I want you
to send me A box of victuals
and A dish of and that is
A dish of diferant kinds of meats
and send me some butter and some
honney and potatoes and one pickle
if no more. and just as meny
diferant things as you want and send me
two or three plugs of Sam Perdues
tobacco and some Apples if you
have got eny. I believe that
is all that I want and know
Ma I will send you a peice
of doe which I will describe to
you as east [2] to go in bread it
will do you A great deal of good
if you use it in the proper manner
if it be dry or soft desolve it in
warm watter do not put much
watter nor flower in this untill
[page 4]
you gets A supply stur in
the flour untill it becomes as
thick or thicker as batter doe then
set it by the fire untill it rises
and then make up your doe
and you may set it by the fire
just to try the experiment and it
will rise and then you may make
it our in buiscuitis if you choose
and bake it it make not much diference
how fast [?] and the thing that
you make your east in the first
time make in it all the time
and just what is left sticking to
the jare at each time will last
you A hole year and on let it
be A continuel thing
I will send you A buiscuit
so you may see the good of this
east

So I must bring
my letter to A close as I have
no news to write give my love to
all of my kindred and I wish
that it was so that I could come and
see you all but it is so that I cannot
but I am inhopse that the time is not
far distant when I can have that privilige
so nothing more at present but
remaining as ever your son and
Brother J, F, Coghill
write soon and often