the
Camp Mangum April the May 1 1862
My dear cousin
I take my pen in hand
to inform you that I am well hoping
that those few lines will find you
all in the same state of helth I recievd
your letter this morning and was glad
to here from you I am coming home if
I live next fall and see my friends
I would like to see you all very well
if you was here you would see sits and here
wonders we have a fine time here but
I dont no how long it will last we have
plenty to eat and ware I did not get altter
when the Capton Came and I did not
like it a bit I want you to right to mee
as quick as you get this if you dont I will
give you and it in anff
of that without it was John I
want you to get on your horse and go
around and tell all of the prttyest
Clever girls hody for me and tell them
right to me or I will right to them
[page 2]
I want you to tell Bob to right
to me and tell mee how him and the
girls comes along We like our Colonel
and our Lieutenant Colonel the best
sort they ar not above us and uncle
Patrack Black is well and says he is the
best Soldier in the Bethal Regiment We ar
camped in the side of the railrode
and the cars ar packed full of soldiers
every time they pass their about 20 thousand
troops here at this time John the news
came a few minerts ago that we have to
start tomarrow to golds burrow I
dont no whether it is so or not John
M Patton is comisury and he was sent
to camps to day and I guess it is so
if we do I will let you no as soon as
we get to our stoping plase we have
bean wanting to get in to Tennasee
but I dont think we will go their
Well I must bring my letter to
aclose wright soon give me all of
the news so nothing more at the
pressant But Remember your Cousin
to J B Patton G P Bird