Febuary 28th 1863
Camp near port royale
Dear Wife I take
the pleasure of riting you a few
Lines to inform you of my health
and the time I am not well I have
not Bin on duty since I have Bin
here I am no Beter than I was at
home But thang god I am a Live
I hope you are well and all the
family is well we hav a Bad
time here it is Raining or Snowing
every day or too Charley is well
and is looking as well as ever
you [sost?] rite to me how you
are getting a long and how youre
farthes family is getting a long
i excpect it is a Bad time it is
here I Know I hav riten to you
in letters and hav received [??]
I received a letter from you the
25 of this month and you
[page 2]
Canot comperhend how
glad I was to hear from you
and to hear that you were well
and to hear that all the family
was well O you canot tell how
Bad I want to see you good grant
I may see you Before long But
god Knowes When it will Be
I am not fit for servace
all the Boyes in Camp sais I ant
to Be discharged I don excpect
to Be I excpect to go Before th medic
al Board When th captain get
Back and I hope to Be able to man
taind a discharge from theis [hendy?]
I Send you a cap By John
Robishand I want you to
rite if you got them or not
I excpect to Send a Coat and Shirt
by T. L. laine I have got a plenty
of clothing here as many as I can carry
if I have to march I have not
drawed no money yet But I expect
[page 3]
to draw the first of next month
and I will Send you Some as Soon
as I get it they are making out
the pey roles now and Lane may
not go till monday if he dont i will
Send the money By him no tongue
can tell how Bad I want to See
you But if I never See you remem
ber I [tr??] as a man can [Fo?]
you I have not had a good
nightes Sleep in a fortenite
and it is all for the Boyes
have Bin enjo enjoying them
Selves By Snow Baling one
another But I could not
pertake with them We have
a man Brout threw our Camps
every day With the drum and
goones and his head shaved for
Coward dise this is to Be done for
30 dayes I dont want this to Be
my case the old 3rd whiped
4 V.a. [rd?] fear cracking with
[page 4]
Snow Bales [1] they Put one of
th V.a. eyes out entirely
Dear Wife I must
Come to a Close By
Saying I had rather
See you than to rite
To you may god Bless
ing rest With you
good By till I hear from
you
husban John Futch
To Marthey Futch
[illustration]
When this you see remember me
though manny mildes a part we Be
John Futch
Marthey
[illustration]