location not copied
September the 13th 1862

My dear Wife your Kind letter came to hand yesterday witch I was truly glad to read but sorry to learn that Woods had the chills and the bad looks of him and Stercy but glad that it is no worse than it is I will say to you that I am tolerabile well at this time. I only I have a cough that bothers me espesly of a night but I hope it is not mutch that is the truth as you said you wanted (illegible) it. When I rote I trust in the allmity god that this will find you all well and doing well. Effie I have not mutch News to communicate to you. the helth of the company is tolerbile Good considering thear chance. Some of the boys has bin veary sick but they are improving (We) have lost 8 of our company since we left home and (torn paper) 4 in the hosspittle that we have not heard from in (a) month We are hear living clost neighbors to the Yankies and we dont agree vary well as neighbors. We have bin laying here in line of battle three weeks today and no fight yet. We cant go to the Gap. If we undertake that they will kill all of us and they wont cum out. If they would cum out we might (get) a chance to whip them but I dont no how it (torn page). we got orders yesterday evening to keep thee (torn page) cookt up but I don’t kno what they are (going) to do for a private. We never hear nothing (torn page) until he is or ded (torn page). Said something to you in my last (letter) about sum cloths. You need not mak many for me for we are not aloud to take them while on a march. If you can get the wool you can make me one pare of pants hevy ones and one yarn shirt and some socks that will be plenty with what I have got. I hope we will git out of this cold country before long. It has comest raining now and they say it will keep on raining (next line not copied)...... I dont expect you can do anything about it will make a fuss for nothing maybe (I ) will right to him about the mater V. G. Reaves was allways acused of steeling and if he has taken that advantage because I am in place I am, he will steel anything but you say nothing more about it for you can’t make anything but a fuss. Effie I will cum home as soon as I can but I dont kno when that will be for there is no (chance) for a man to get off if he can stand up he has to go on duty. James Petty is about to git off for his legs is about to rot.

Wife I want to to pray for this war to close and for me to get home and the rest to get home to thear blesed families for when I when I am sleeping I am dreaming about you and the blessed little childring and when I awake ou) are on my mind nearly all the time. I trust and pray to the allmity god that the time will cum and cum soon when will meet agane on this earth. Some times I think (torn page) I cant stand it mutch longer from the Blessed little babies and then I think no better than anybody else and it revives (me) a little. it lies all to gether with our father (torn page) I hope he will permit me to be with (torn page) this earth and that before (torn page). I must close Bob Smith has bin wounded but he is about well Bill Cowart is well as common. Jeff (brother George “Jeff” Cowart) is puny and was very bad off two or three days ago with the billious colic but he is getting strait agane. Right soon as this comes to hand. Direct your letters as usual. Give my love to Mother (Margaret Cowart, who in Nov 1863 was a member of the Ivy Creek church) and all connection and friends William (probably son James William born 1853) you just right to me and be a good boy and the lord will (torn page). I have not saw John yet I am amid ...