Camp near Kinston N C
March the 3 / 65
Dear Sister
I find it
convenient to ansur your
too letters which came
to hand at Goldsboro N C
they found me quite
well and harty So that
[??????????????????] [1]
[???] very esy this [???]
quite well and I
hope when this comes
to hand it may find
yous all well and harty
I was very sorry to here
that Father had Started
to me and cold not
Come for I was at
then and did not get
any thing to eat hardley
I wold hav bin glad
to a Saw him but
if he wants to come
yet he can find me
[page 2]
very [?????] camped [2]
a bout [??] miles from
Kinston [??] north [??]
We very [??]
Wether here and rain
Besids we have pretty
hard times when [???]
at Golds boro this last time
we had to [????]
gard every day
almost there was a
bout 5 thousand
prisoners there at one
time there was a
bout 10 thousand
parolled there while
we was there I think
we will stay here
now a while at this
plase I was geting Some
what a fraid that
old Sherman wold come
threw some time
since but I hope they
will get him Stoped
[page 3]
I am going to try
for a transfur before
long I dount like this
Regment as good as I do
the 1st N C Cav I think
J A don a good
deed when he sold
old gray Bank as
he wold hav eat more
corn this winter than
he was worth I wold
like to get home now
for I cold tell Some
good tales I hav just
went threw a nuff
to learn Since I hav bin
out So I must
Close by tellng you
that yeterday we don
the first drilling that
we don in about
too months
[page 4]
I think Wiley Baggers
will come as [??] wrote
for him [???????]
and if he is coming
yous can Send Some
little things with him
we are doing pretty
well now for something
to eat we draw as
much meal and
meet as we eat
but Some flower bred
wold eat Some better
So I must close
Write Soon Direct
your letters to Kinston

M J M Smith To
M C Smith