January the 12 day 1862

Wileming ton new hanover county
Dear wife I reced yor kind letter in
deu time and was glad to heare from
you and heare that you was all well
I am well at this time for which
I feel thankful to god and I am in
hopes when thes few lines reaches you
tha wil find you all well I want
to come and Sea you all but I cant
come yet nor cant tel at this time
when I can come but I wil come
as Sone as I can git the chance
the fur lows is all Stoped for a while
So no man can go home for we ex
Spects to git in a fite everday
we dont now what our we wil
bea cauld in to a bat tle but we ar
reddy for it at anney time we dont
dred the thaut of it much but
I cant tell whether I Shal ever
Sea you a gin and if I dont I
want you to doe the best you can
for yor Self and the child
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brother John is going to leave to mor
row or next day and I wil Send this
by him as Sone as you git this you
must write and let me heare from
you and yor peaple and tel me how
you you ar git ing a long and I want
you to take my Sone down to his
grancers and let him Sea him I want [1]
want you to bea Sure to goe
if I am Spard to git back to you
I wil never leav you a gin So I
think I [??] a bout as Stout as en
ney boddy in camp wil mington
and if I cold come home I cold tell
you a heep and if you was hear you
cold Sea a heep we ar druming one man out
this evening I in tend to con duct my Self
as wel as I can Soe when I die I can die
in peace and if we never meat a gin
on earth I hope we wil meat in heven
whar thar is no war So I wil quit by
Saying to you my wife write as Sone as
you git this lucy I bid you good ev
ning So no more at present but remaines
yor hus band un tel deth Evin Smith