Peters Burg may the 23 1862
Dear cosen it is with grate [???]ance
I take my pen in hand to inform
you that I am not well but able
to be up and has not ben well
sence a weeke before I received your
letter and I hope when theas few lines
reaches you they may find you and the
famly well we are get a [??] and I
hope we shall remain so
we have had afight at Richmon cence
the figt hare our lost was fore hundred
killd and wonded we kild 600 yankes
tuck 13 hudrid prisners I have nothing
of any importance to right you give
my love to uncle starky and ant
Polly an Alford an James and all of
the childring o Winaford I give enny
[page 2]
thing in this world to se you one
Time more and talk with you for I want
to se you so bad I dont no what to do tell
tell uncle Starky I want to se him and
talk with him tell him to right to me if
he pleases for I want to hear from him thare
Are no finds [1] in war nothing but trouble
and trials dear cosen I am bound to right
you a short lette for there are so menny
to right to Wm J Mitchell Thomas
H Mitchell sends ther best respecks to you
they are both mity good boys we cam to
gether o cosin think of me pore me and
Right to me I hope the lord will be
With me and inable me to com home and
se you a gain yours truly from a pore
trouble cosen Joseph J Cowand
[page 3]
cely Rice
Dear ant it is with
Plesure I drop you theas few lines
to inform you that I am not well
and has not bn for severl weeks hoping
theas few lines my find you and grapappy
Well and uncl ned tell them I want to
se them all mity bad but I dont no
When I shal se them a gain but I hope
and trust in my god befre long for I put
All of my trust in him to send me home
Again tell ant pat and george howdy
and the childring tell them I want
to se them mity bad and talk wth
them one time more but god in
heven nose whe I shal se them
again give my love to all of my
enquiring frinds keepe a larger
[page 4]
potion for your self Dereck you
Letters to Peters Burg va thirty 22
Northcarolinia state troops I will
com to a close By saing I hope the lord
Will be with me untwell death
yours truly from a pore desolate solger
Joseph J Cowand

to Miss Cely Rice