Camp Near Orange Court House
December 25th 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 havent
Received nerry letter From You
in 2 weeks and I thought
I would write You a Few
lines I havent anny thing
new to write mother I dont
want You to send me them
Pants not untill I write
to You to send them
For I have Drawn me a
pair and I dont need
them but I want You to
send me a box of something
to eat if You can get
the chance such as Irish
Potatoes and sweet ones
[page 2]
and some Dried Fruit and
some molasses
one thing an other to eat
I wish I was at home
to get someting good to eat
now but I am in hopes
it wont by Long untill
we all can come home to
stay I want You to
write when You think the
Home Guard will have
to go in camp a gain
and if their is anny talk
of takeing them out
and all the nuse that is a
stiring through the settlement
we have to go on Picket
to morrow we have bin
a working on the road
For the Last two Dayes
Tell Fanny and bet I want
them to send me a
christmas cake if they please
and Tell sam & John to
Ketch me a rabit and
[page 3]
Skin and Dry him For
me and to send it to
me By the First one
that Passes
I must
Bring my letter to a
close By saying write soon
and Fail not
I remain Your loveing
Son till Death
William A Tesh
to M Tesh & Family
[page 4]
I Received a Letter From You to
Night and was Truly Glad to
hear from You and to hear
that you was all well and
doing well You wrote that
Frank Childers had got [1]
Back home a gain it seems
[????] he has all the good
luck to get home and I
dont think They punished
John Hauser much For
staying at home as Long as
he did I expected they
would Punish him worse
Than they did I must Bring
My letter to a close
By saying write soon and
often
I remain Your loveing
son till Death W A Tesh
To Moses Tesh & Family