[diagonal across top 3 lines]
M J Caldwell
[page 1]
Jan the 10,, 1864
Dear Wife I Seat my Sef
to drop you a fu lines to
let you here from R C.c
I am well except a bad cold
I have bin exposed to rain and
Sleet and coldest winds I have to
Stan and take it all when I
am on piket I was on post frid
knight close to the Sea the tide
ran up to my feet it Sleeted
and raned and bloed and the ce
roerd it is as cold here as I
ever Saw I can See yankes
blockades every day wee had a
cannonade them a fu days a go
Sum miles belo this one of our
bots run a ground and we went
to protect hur we bust one of
our cannoes cild one man and crip
a cap the yankes dident hit no
one after Shooting 2 days
wee got Sum of the goods out
and burnt the bot
[page 2]
Well Mag I feel prity well
this morning I wasent on
rade by not being well I cod
a went I thot I wold take care
of nom one I had a bad cold
and Sore throt the rest of our
is all broke doun and sick this
morning we have got in the
garison out of the rain at last
this is wet day but not So cold
I am Sitting on my hunkers
writing on my ne I receved
your leter dated the 28 of Dec
that is all cince S[?] came back
I hant rec one in 2 weeks
this maks 2 I have sent and
no answer I wold be glad
this war wod Stop But the Lord
will Be Dun Siners must
repent or like wise peresh
the Sins of the nation brot on
this war nuthing but weekedness
brot it on
[page 3]
Well Mag I am giting
tired Siting on my hunkes
I am geting along pety well
I Shant complain when I
look around and See many
uthers in a heep worse condi
Sum Bear footed and raget
and cick Sum one way and
Sum a nuther I hope this
war will close Sum day
But wee dont no who
will See the end of it time
will prove all things
I Dont feel no ways on esy
about the yankes kiling me
But I cant tel but I feel
like tha wold I live in hope
Well Mage I must come to a
close write Soon and ofe
tel me the nuse and you
are giting a long and about
every thing R.C.C to MJ C
yours til Death Januay 12
[page 4]
Well Mag I Dont no when I
will get home a bit more than
you do furlos has Started again
but it will be Sum time before
my time cums to go home
I hant got but one leter Sinc
I left Wilmington dated the 28
I wright 1,,2 every week this is 2
cince I got one,, well Mag I
will try to finish my leter 12 in
of the month as I Stopt the 10
on acount of being on well and
two cold I coldent write our
CO was orderd doun the Bech
to take a yanke Blocade that
was run a ground we left
Sundy evening and came back
mondy night at 11 oclock all
Safe but tha Saw Sites the
yank Sheld them like rip
and Set the Bot a fier and
blode it up this is 4 Bots
Blods up at this place it is
a dangrs Bisness