Johnson Island Sanduskey

Aug 12^th 1862

 

Mr Cornelius Bell

                       

Der Brother this beautiful morning I seat myself to answer youres of the 31^th You must excuse bad spelling for if you knew the chance I halve to wright in a room with 50 odd men and some of them as hard cases as you ever saw I acknollidge it to halve bin an awful blunder I halve R^ec an other letter from uncle Belfield and halve sent you a coppy of it. I want you to aske Father and Mother iff I must answer it or not and let me know. Ther is a grate deel of talk her of beeing exchanged soon I think chances good for a moove south soon if nothing hapins we all have the chance to take the oath and return home but no one wishes to bite I r^ec a letter from the boys yesterday they wer in better helth than they halve bin in for monthes none of them in the hospitle It is rumored her that ther is a fight going on in the valley near Richmond from the letter I rec from J. H. Crawford & from some that Capt Mayes gets it appeares that you all are looking for us home every day. Let me tell you the truth I am not comeing so look no more my helth has bin very bad for the last month I am fearfull it will prevent me from being able for to do service to my Contry in the letter before I sent Mother a ring I hope these lines will find you and your famuley all well Mother as a child of yores I intend to do as near my duty as I can. Father as a son of yours I feel it my duty to do my duty to all & my Contry. I hope in a fiew monthes or years we will be permited to see each other Yore affectionate Brother Child & Son

L^ut Thomas Bell

 

To Cornelius Bell                                                       

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