[letter written by Cpl. James J. Testerman, Co. A, 37th NC Inf.]

Febeuay the 14 day, 64

In Camp Near orange va
My Dear loving father and
Mother and Brothers and
Sisters this blessed Sabath
moring iam blessed with
a nother oppertunity to rite
you a few Lines to let
you now that iam well
and harty this moring as i ever
in my life truly hoping
these few lines will
reach you in dew time
and find you all well
ihant had now letter
from you in Sevral
days ihant eny nuse to
rite al is Still in
camp this moring nuthen
new hard times her as
for Somthing to Eeat but
hant her to git
[page 2]
the wether is clear and
warm ihant Seen But
one Small Snow this
winter wee count on
having aheep of hard
fighting to doo this Spring
idont think if the wether
keeps ofen like hit is now
wee will fight beferlong
i Shood like for you to
Send me Somthing to Eeat
if you can By the first
one passes rite to me if
you can i Shood like
to See you all one time
more in this world But
my chance is Bad now
for the men that wee
hav furlowed dont Seam
to come Back like tha ort
two
[page 3]
hit was rote in Corpal
JJ testermans letter that
Brothers hiram was dying
is the last nuse i hav got
also it was rote in John
Black letter that he was
dead all of the Boyes
in the company is well
at this time and harty
ihav herd that harvy
fipps is at our house very
Bad off rite to me and
let me now how he is
rite to me me and lit
me now what complaint
it is and if eny more
of my pepol has hit
rite to me as Sone as this
letter comes to hand
fale not for me
[page 4]
tell harvy to rite to
rite to me as sone as he
gits this lettr fale not
TJ Carter told me that
Isaak Jones told him that
harvy wife was with him
at our house rite to me and
let me now wher she is
or now rite to me and let
me now when Mary has
got home or now Sow i will
Close this leter i remane
your Son till death
From thornt Sexton
to Prier Sexton
Marir Sexton
farewell
corp J J Testerman hand rite