Camp Near Orange Court House
November 24th 1863
Dear Father & mother
I take my pen in hand
to inform You that I am
well and hope when these
Few lines comes to hand may
Find You enjoying the same
Blessing I received Your Kind
Letter 23 and was Truly Glad
to hear From You and to
hear that You was all well
and Glad to hear that You
had Got Dun sowing
wheat and I want You
to sow all the rye and
oats You can You wrote
That the home Guard would
ant have to go in camp
anny more not untill they
all get their corn Geatherd
and wheat sowd I think
that is a good thing For
the people will have a chance
[page 2]
You wrote You wanted to
Know if I Felt as well as
I did when I was at
home I Feel a heap stouter
and Look better than I did
but my legs is a little
stiff Yet Mother we have
taken up winter Quarters
we had orders to build us
cabins I have got me one
all ready dun their is Four
of us a gowing to stay in
it me and Sam Harding
and Berry and William Macy
it is 12 Feet square and
we have got a splendid
chimney and have got beds
of of the ground and we
Fare splendid only we have
to go on picket every
Five Dayes our Regt is on
Picket now I didant have
to go For I haint got
no Gun we have a large
[page 3]
company now we have a bout
68 men Present Father I have
sent to a store to get You
some caps and if I [1]
get them I will send You
10 or 15 in a letter at a
time untill I send You
all I can get Mother I
want You to make me them
Pants and send them to me
when ever You can I wish
I had a Brought Them
other Pair of pants that I
have but mine is good Yet
Tell John I said if he
wants to he may take that
Robin of mine and wair
it out I dont care For
it Tell Old sambo I havent
got anny thing to Give him
now but I will have something
some of these times I got that
what You sent in that letter
and am much oblige to You
[page 4]
for sending it You needant
send me that other peace not
untill I write to You to
send it I must Bring
my letter to a close by saying
I remain Your loveing son
till Death
William A Tesh
to M Tesh and Family
Father I couldant get
You anny caps at that
store but I will Keep
a trying untill I can
get You some They say
Old Boss Jeff is a gowing
to review the army
in a Few Days
Write soon and often
I remain Your loveing
son till Deth
W A Tesh