May the 1st 1863
Halifax county Vir
Dear Father I embrace
the present Moments to write you a
few lines to let you no that I am
in common health at this time and
hope that these lines will find you
well I suppose we will go on duty
in a short time I have no news
of any importance write I expect we
will go Back to culpeper and [?] then
we will make an advance into Maryland
again I dont no it to be so but I think
that is their intention to make an other
attact on the Soil of Maryland
I wrote you a few lines a few days ago
but had no time to write I thought I
would write to you again I was not
satisfied with what I wrote I dont
no when I will have the chance to
write again I will write every chance
and I want you to do the same
[page 2]
I had very bad luck with my horse
somthing got the Matter with him in a
few days after I left home and it was
about five days before I found out what
was the Matter one of his got
hurt some way but he is a heap
better and Mending every day he got very
stiff and could hardly walk but is now
well I was offerd 8 hundred dollar and
he was then in very bad fix then
that was as I come on to the Regiment
our horses is to be valued to day
Poke [1] is well and expects to go home
soon I will write by him when
he goes home Paper is only five dollars
a quire here and envelops in proportion
I am going to send my Sadle back
By Poke when he goes home
[last 2 lines are written in another hand and marked through:
“yo Sed yo wanted Me to write to yo
when got to [????????]”]
[page 3, writing is in more than one hand]
I will try and Send you some money By polk
if he gits off I think he will be sirtian to
git off
Pap if you and Elyzabeth goes to git maried
you must Let me no it in time to giv you
an ansuer you had beter Let that a lone
till they ware is ovr with out you are
afraid som Body will cut you out
So I must com to a close By Sayng
I Remain your Son
J. A. Shipman
A R Shipman

Direct your Leters to Richmond Va
and then wee can git
them I dont care wher wee

[top and bottom margins have bits of writing crossed out, as well as someone practicing the alphabet]

[page 4]
Hed quarters 2 N. C. Cavalry
may thy 1st 1863
My Dear Sister
I take my pen in
hand to Let you no that I am well and
hoping that these fiew Lines may come safe
to hand and find you well
I havant mutch to Right at present onely
wee got Orders to go to Culpeper Va
Last night and will Starte thier in thy
morninge I hav Ben at one infair Sence
I got Back
me and Polk and Frank Bay
Started out one night to hunt Super
and wee got Bout 2 miles from camp and
wee found A house and went in and
wee had A fine tim with thy Girles
Tell gorge Baley that I will fix what
me and him was talking A Bout if I can
when Polk Came [???] No more
From you Brother J A Shipman
To N A Shipman