Dec 15 1861    Blufton Marion Camp

 

My Dear wife After my due respects to you and family I seat my self and mean to drop you a few lines to in form you that I am well at present Praying that thes few lines may find you well and children enjoying the same blessing the duty hear is more than the pickets can stand and company leaving every day all most there left this morning from hear 2 disbanded and one to go to Read Bluff we expect about next week our company will be disbanded and we will come home then in a hurry take care of your self and children for me I hope I will see them once more again and that soon May god bless you all is my prayr for his name sake the Company hear is trying to muster the Company in to Confederate Servis and all that dont go into it will be disbanded and sent home awhile eny how it will take 72 men to make a company and some of the officers will have to go in ranks or go home one or the outher. I wont go in to it tel I see more than I doo now I wont go in under Smith for he is and infidel and to lazzy to do eny thing in the world if he could help it he speaks migty favorable about it now but he told the men so many lies that they dont beleave him eny more than they would a negro 

 

My dear wife take care of your self for me Tel Mah and all houdy for me we wont be hear much longger hear no how we will be home in ten days after the legislater adjorne if not be fore but I think we will come home sooner than that they speak of disbanding ous right of and if they doo that we will be home purty soon you must rite me a letter just as quick as you can Tel Mah to let James come down hear with the old man when he comes hear Tell all houdy for me May god bless my house hole for his name sake Take care of James and George for Pah tel he comes home. kiss them for Pah

 

May god guid guard rule and direct your foot steps in the path ways of duty is my prayr for his Name Sake

 

Tel dave and Ann houdy for me if enny thing turn up we will rite rite away I dont think that there will be enny thing in the way of our Companys disbanding thou you would lik to hear from my horse as I would from grub clock is mending evry day he is in fine order now and I am offered some fine trades for him but I want to bring him home again

 

Nothing more but remain your loving husband untel death HHHill

 

dear wife I still remain Company hear if I was not it would kill me to stand picket the men is of all the time on duty they cant sleep now at nite moris is well and satisfied

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