Camp Near Guineas Station Va. May 30^th/63

                       

My Dear Brother I take my pen to answer your kind letter of 17^th which came to hand on yesturday, was truly glad to hear from you and all the rest of the family & Eliza, and that you all were well. These few lines leaves myself brother John & Ed all well, with the exception of my leg, which looks like will never get well again. I hope these lines will find you all well and doing well. I was glad to hear that Sis Lizzie school was as good as it is hope she will have a large school, &c. I was also glad to hear that crops were so good, &c; And that things at home were getting on so well. Dear Lewis I would like to be at home to eat chickens with you all, for it is very seldom we get chickens or eggs or turkeys to eat, and then have to pay two dollars a doz. for eggs, four for chickens and ten for a turkey. I & Ed gave ten for a turkey the other day, sold half for five, made a pie out of the other half sold ten dollars worth and had as much left then as four could eat. So you may know how it is here about such things to eat; they are very scarce at those prices. 

 

Dear Lewis I would like to be at home with you all for several reasons, besides wanting to see you all, so bad &c. I want you to write as often as you can, not wait to get letters from us for it is very uncertain when we have the chance to write now. Our Brigade is under marching orders at this time and has been for several days I know not where we shall go, but write and Direct to Richmond and we will get them when we stop. I understand the whole of Gen. Lees army is under marching orders. I do not know what I shall do for I am not able to march on my leg but little, but I shall do the best I can. Dear Lewis, we have a great feeling of religion now in our midst, I hope that the good spirit will still be with us there is no doubt but what God has blessed a great many and will bless others yet. Thank God for what my poor soul has felt. I intend to do my duty to God let what will come or go; a man soul is worth more to him than any thing else and more than worlds to him when death shall come. Dear Lewis my dear brother let us all live so that if we all should never meet no more on earth let us live so that we shall meet in heaven, where wars sorrows troubles and parting are not known / Let us serve God with all our soul mind & strength, we should all be on our guard for we are in a land of disease and death we should always be redy for we know not the day nor the hour when death shall come. Dear Brother it is our whole duty to serve God. There has several confessed religion and have joined the church here in the army. I hope God will take care of all of us both here in the army, and those at home, &c. &c.

 

I have nothing of interest to write you at this time, as we have written so often and evry thing is strange to you. Wheat crops look very well here. Corn has just come up. The weather is very cool at night and very warm in the day. I want you to stay with Eliza as much as you can for I know she is lonesome by hurself. I want Par to take my colt and use him in some way to brake him for me. I do not want him to trade my colt untill I come for I want to keep him myself. I think he will make me as good horse as I can get. And horses are so high two I think that I had as well keep him as any other &c. I shall close for the want of news to write. be sure and all write as often as you all can / I am looking evry day for a letter from Par now. P. Perkins is well. All the boys that went from our settlement are well. There is but little sickness in our Co. now. George Schwalls is looking for an answer from you. Write how all things are getting on at home and how evry body is &c. Brother John & Ed joins me in love to you all &c. I remain as ever your true brother till death yours truly

                                                                                                           

E. D. Cheatham

 

P.S. Excuse writing &c as the boys are talking and I have to write on my knee yours E. D. Cheatham

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