the 5 [1861]
State of N C Wake Co Aprl
My dear cousin take the opportunity
to drop you a few lines to let
you know that we ar all well
and has got the name of the best
looking Company in the Bethal
Regiment and that is the Truth
you no your Self I think if you
could see the Bethal regiment on
dress parade I think you would
like to be with ous We want to
move from here very Bad but
I cannot tell When it will
bee uncle Robbert Patton [1] Will
start next tuesday to Smith field
I would like to go with him
my Self but mony is not plenty
anuff if you to volenteer
you must come to the old
riffle compa[n]y and we will
treat you well
[page 2]
I would like to See you
all very well but that cannot
bee now and it may never be
but I hope it will be Some day
I want you to tell all of my self
friends hody for me tell the
girls that I am comeing home in
about five or six months and I
Want you to tell them to have
Somthing god to eat and I
will go about and help them to
eat it I will will tell som
of them my self [?] far away
as I am you can tell the peopel
that talked about them that
our dramdrinking officers ar
first state strat fellews they ar
fiting aut kineston now John
yow must wright to me soon
give mee all of the news so nothing
more far well
tell Rob to G. P. Bird to J B Patton
not mary son