Suffolk Va July the 15th [1861]
Dear Father & Mother
as I have an opportunety to send
this to you I will drop you a
few lines to let you know tha
we are well hoping these lines
may find you all enjoying the
same blesing I have nothing of
interest to write but as I have
a chance to send it to you I have
concluded to write you a line
just to let you know that we
are geting along finely taking
things as they come without com
plaining we received a leter
from sam a few days since what
stated that he was geting along
finely and that wheat crops was
good which we were glad to hear
for we may come back if we do
we will want something to eat
I can tell you but little about
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war matters for we cant hear
the truth a cross a banch thees times
so nothing more at pesen
remains your son J E Patton