Sea brook island SC

June 3^th 1863

 

Dear Sarah I have received your kind and wellcome letter I was glad to hear that you was all well but I have not ben for the last week I have had the chills bad that is very bad sickness I could not eat anything hardly it did not seam as though I could live long but I have got better know they say a Soldier life is always gay but I cant see much gayety about it have to sleep on the ground and live on old horse and hard bread. I have got a year longer to stay and if I live my till my time is up I will never take up armes again if the country sinks I have not seen a woman for six months ant that hard I dont know but they will take me for / a wild man when I come home do you think the war will be over before my time is up I hope it will for I am sick of it we have to go on picket one week out of a month some of our men have bin shot I cant think of any more to write know so

 

good by from

J M [?] N

                                   

Give my best respects to all our friends

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