Jan the 24 1864
Carolina Co. Va.

Dear Sister I seat
my self this evning to drop
you a few lins to let you
no that I am in the land
of the living yet and in
very good health at this time
and I hope that these lins
my find you injoying
the like blesing and find
the famly all well I hav no news
of interest to write more than
there was some heavy cannon
nading yester day in the direc
tion of orange C. H. thogh
I hav not heard any thing
about it yet there was five
from Co. A and one of Co. C.
Deserted last monday night
and I sopose went to the yankees
[page 2]
they had took a Sprey last
night a week a go and in there
fight broak one mans leg and
struck another one on the head
with a pole so that they had
to send two to the hospital and
the rest ware in the guard house
waiting to be cort marcheld
and would hav ben severly
punished but did not wait
for the trile. the fourth regt
of n.c. Cav. will start back
to N.C. tomorrow morning
we hav very fine and warm
wether at pesant it makes me
think a bout being at home
to go a corting and squeace
some of the girls for I no that
they would like to be squeased
a little we hav plenty to eat
such as it is bread and meat
but would like to hav something
better
[page 3]
I received a letter from G. E. [1]
two days ago he wrote that his
health was very good and his
duty but lite which he had
to do. you can tell mother
that I got the pair of socks
which she sent with D. M. [?]arkey
my hand which I had burnt
is just about well so that I
can write a little a gain.
I would like to no if the girls
goes corting as this is leap
year and there year to go to see
the boys I think if I was at
home they would shorley come
to see me but if the girls
will go to see the boys they will
hav to go some distance be fore
they will find them and so
I think if they hav any boys
at home they would better
hole oan to them for the boys
out hear are a geting prety bade
[page 4]
so I must come to a close
for this time for I do not
no if my letter will intrest
you a nuf to read all of it
or not I remain you bro.
as ever
J. A. Smith
To M. C. smith