[the first four letters are in the hand of Shipman’s cousin, J. K. Polk Shipman]

ashville N C Camp vance
June 2[8?] [1861]
Dear father I take my
pen in hand to let
you now that I am
well at this time hoping
that when thes few
lins Coms to hand that
they may find you all
well father I am Coming
home next Saturday I want
you to hav me a good horse
aganst then if you get me
ahorse I will get $24 amonth
$12 amonth for me and 12 for my
horse go to Wevrs and try
to trad him out of his mare
ther are fiv Companey
her now
A Way Down in virgina
Wher I dont expect
to Diye load up my gun
and make the yankeys fly
[page 2]
I am well Satus fied
and got plenty to eat
I Want apare of pants
Darke colerd
tell Avery folks
that avry will bat
home next Saturday
We expect to go to the
warm Springs in about
three weeks we hav our
pistols her now redy
to Shot the yankeys
that is all that we
think about is killing
yankes last evning we
had a ragment Dress
per rad with about
400 hunard in[??] tell that
[??] is well Satus fied
I must fettch my leter
to a close A Son to A
father