Camp of Instruction Near Gordonsville Sept 12th 1862
My deare and affectionate Wife I take My pen in had to let you
know that I am wel as common asnd I hope these fiew lines
May find you enjoying the same Blessing I have not Much
News to write the Measels is think heare and I think that Nearly
half our camp has runaway and Benn carried to pittle
Some runes away nearly evry day some get taken and are
Brought Back some gets home we heare Henry Thomerson
has got the Measels and is Broke out thick If he dont get no worse
he will come out rite I think thare is lots of wounded soldiers
comes heare on thar way home they are pittiful looking persons
shure to see armes legs shoulders tore so with the Ball
I have Been detailed with 20 Men last weeak to go about
15 Miles down to Rapperdan station to help [????]
a rail Road Bridge a cross the Rivier thare we seen lots
of yankee prisoners and I Saw old Jeff pass But was not
close enoughf to him to get a good look at him I [???] Boat
on the River and he past on a pontoon Bridge Just Below he
had Been over about Cullpepper we heard he is a plane looking
Man the Most of the Men we heare talk says they dont think
this war can last long let it stop when it May [????]stop
two soon for Me or if I could Be at home once More and
could get to stay thare how gload I should Be I donte no
how long we will stay heare some ses we May have
to leave in a short time and some ses it My Bee some
time yet they say our army is on Maryland and we will
have to go to it when we leave heare I expect But I
hope this Battle will Be faught out Before we have
to go to them If this war dont cease it is shure to Be
hard times for Purvisiones can be had whare the armies
have Been they have pulled all the green corn for Miles
wide and hunderds of Miles long the wheat was good tho
down heare But it has not Been hauld in yet on the account
of having no one to doe it they say
[page 2]
We have plenty to Eat that is we have good Bacon
generaly and flower and we have to cook it the Best
way we can we haint had any rain worth nameing ever
since we left home I want you to write to Me if you
have had any rain in youre neighborhood since we
left or not and how crops looks about home if I dont
soon get a letter from you I dont know what is the Reason
But I hope and am looking for a letter from you every day I
have not wrote But one letter Before this But I have
sent you some fiew words in the Boys letters to let you
know that I was well we dont have any fruit in this
country But what is Brought in this camp and them
that Buys them has to pay ten priceses for them
I want to know how you all are getting a long with
the fruit at home and if it is good [??] how it is
tell W[?] Walker to write to Me and give Me [???]
I would be glad to se him and all the rest [???]
friends and acquaintense But My deare wife and
little ones I should Be glad to se you you
Must tell Me how Martha and Perlina is getting
along and tell them that ther Pardy sends
them howdy and all the Rest and ses they Must Bee good Babys
and I will come home as soon as I can But when
that will Be thare is no one can tell you Must
send youre letter to Gordonsville Virginia
in cur of Lutenant Matlock and they will
come [??] I want to no if vacher Ingrim got [1]
home or not so I Must come to a close you
Must answer this letter soon as it comes to
hand so I remain youre affectionate
husband untell death I send My love to My
farthers and Mothers and would Be glad to se
them all to Mrs Lucinda A Ingrim
John Ingrim