We are nere (near) the White Sulpher Springs
July the 7, 1861
Dear Brother I have this prvolidg (priviledge) of writing to you this eaving (evening) I doant (don’t) know how many there is here they have bin (been) as many as three thousand together at one time we expect to leave here in a few days but when you rite (write) you must direct your letter in the care of Cp (mistake) G W Hammons I am well at presant and I hpoe when thes (these) few lines come to hand that they may find you all well I want you to rite (write) to me as soon as you can I did not see Marthy Harte I want you to give evry (every) body my respects bee (be) surtain (certain) and tell Mr.Robinson howdy doo for me I want you to ten (tend) to that thing over on the turn feld (field) for me if she rits (writes) to me and give it to you you must sende (send) it to me as quick as posesabe l (possible) tell Murvy (Minervia) & Polly howdy doo surtain (certain) they are fiting _______ _______now & I expect that we ______ _____ ther next you ought to see the tents we have in our camp we was cald (called) up the ther (there) ought to fight as we thought but it was not so an (and) then we went and laid down and Just as we laid down we thought that we herde (heard) somebody coming down threw the brush to warn us John Waler (mistake) said hault (halt) three times and it would not stop and then we shot at the noys (noise )& what do you think it was it (mistake) was a hors (horse) I suppose we hit one of our wagon horses anyhow Joseph Walker cried I beleave (believe) and then got sick from the scare I suppose I expect that I will have the mesels now for ther (there are servel (several) gothen (got them) now Mr. Boley had tem (them) there are a boute (about) 5 hundred in the ridgmente (regiment) that I come in I have a good time cooking you ought to see me making up wheat bred (bread) nothing more Samuel Smith