Feb the 10th 1862

{To Manda Overcash}
Amanda Overcash [1]
Dear Sister I take this opportunity
of writing you a fiew lines to let
you know that I am well and
hoping theas fiew lines may find
you well wel Amanda I would
like to get to go home and See you and
go to preaching with you I have not
bin at preaching in three or four
months and I have not bin in
a house cince I left home I do not
believe that I could rid hardly if I would
get home Some of our men are at home
by this time and I hope that I will
get to go Some time befour long too
but I can not tell you wheather I can go
or not for them that did go did not know
they was going until the morning
they Started you could not hardly no
me if you would See me I am Smoked
so black but I am geting Some of it off
cince we have bin in our cabbins
but when we moved over hier we was
all Smoked Just as black as we could be
[page 2]
When this you See
Remember me though in the army I be

My thing that you all
Sent to me is almost done
and then I will have nothing
to eat but old beef and bread
we have no coffe now nor Salt
nor nothing but beef and bread
I have nothing to writ to you But
If there is any Schoole I want you to
and larne to read and write then
you can write for your Self but
I will be at home before you can write
If I ever but you mus larne
to read and then I will Send
you Some money to get you a book
or get you a book and Send it to
you if I can my sore leg
has got well now that was Sore
when father was hier I wanted
him to stay longer but Mr
would not stay and he wanted to go
with him So nothing more at
present get some body to over this
for you James W Overcash to
Amanda E Overcash