Camp ner culpepper N A
August the 20 1863
Dear couzin it is with
pleasure that I take my
pen in han to drop you
A few lines to let you
here from me theas few
lines leaves me well at this
time in body but not in mind
for I want to com home
to see you all Willia I
hope when theas few lines
rech you thay will find
you an Father an famaly
all well Willia I hav
no good nuse to rite to you
for thir is nothing good in
this wor I hav thout that I
wood of rote to you before
now but I hav not had
the chanch for thay keep
ous vary bissy since we
hav bin in virginia
[page 2]
Wilia I hav thout that
I shold com home but
I have nerly lost all hops
but I hope I shal come
to see you all before long
for I want to see you all
mity bad but if it is not
the lord wil that I should not
com home this summer I
hope it will bee his will
to spair my life to com
this winter for I dont
think we will stay up
here this winter Willia I
exspect the boys is fling [1]
around you to set an if
thay are I am shure you
will bee marred
before I can get home
but if you dow I wish you
good luck
[page 3]
Willia there is won
thing I now an that is this
if you wont to get marid
as bad as theas boys wants
to get out of virginia you
will bee marid long before
I get home for we want
to com home worse than
you ever wanted to see
your Jularkey [2] in your
life I will stop my
foolishness rite off giv
my lov to your Mother
an Father an famaly and
to all of my inquireng
frends if eny giv my
love to nan when you
see hir nothing more
at present only your
frend until deth so fair
well ..R..D.. Myres
To Winny A Cowan
[page 4]
if you shold rite
to me Direct your
letters to Richmon
in car of capt J B
Charry Company
F 59 Redgement [Capt. Joseph B. Cherry]