Camp Smith
July 24th 1862
Dear Father & Mother
I seat my self this morning
to drop you a few lines to let
you know that I am well at the
present hoping that these few lines
will find you all enjoying good
helth we got along vary will we got to
A Alexander the first night and to Bar
netts the second we moved ye[s]turday
we are stationed now on a Island
there is about fifteen acres in it
it is a vary good plase to drill but wood
and water is not handy we moved
a cross the river in two canooes we have
tolerable plenty to eat we have sugar and
rice bacon and flour salt theire is a right
smart of our bacon that is spilt [“not bad” added between the lines]
but we have to eat it or do with
out I was on gard last night for
the first time we have sixteen in
our mess I expect we will have twenty
[page 2]
when all of our company comes in
I am doing vary well and vary
well satisfide I will close without
it was better write soon
direct your letters to WarmSprings
Madison county cear of capt West
First Battion N C Troops
excuse my bad writing and spelling
remember your son J B Patton
to J L Patton