Camp near Charlston James ailant apral 22th 1863 [1]
Well Dear sistor Maray ann as you Do not think a
nauf of me to Right a few lineas to me I Will Drop a
few lineas to you Dear sister I hant for goton you if you
have me I have tried to hear whar you yous so i could rit [2]
to you but have never harn from you sance i laft
home untol to Deay & i yous glad to hear from you but
sorray to hear that you yous not Well thas lineas leaveas
me Well & fat Maray ann if you yous to se me you
Wod not no me for i am a fat man mi barg is a bought [3]
5 incas long you may think that i am mad with you [4]
[page 2]
but i am not nor nevor yous in my life you feall laik
a sistor to me I got a letter from home this weak thay yous
all Well Dear sistor I am happeay to tall you that my famlay
& me is all in peas & i hop that We Will stay so as long as
We live on arth Maray ann pleas kiss little Wilseay for
me & tall him how glad his unkel Jere loveas him give
my love & Respcets to Marry ellan & to Rebacca & to your
brother if he Will Recived it as Wm, H has rot all the [5]
news i Will stop for this time pleas rit soon So
my love is to you unntal Death J E M I Stricklin [6]

pleays Hand this to Maray Ann Halling her loving
Brother Writ Soon N C