March the 10^th/62

Camp Raranch near New bern

 

Miss Sarah Jane M^cDonald

 

Dear Cousin

I received your very kind and lost welcom letter datted february the 5^th 1862 and was truly glad to get it I would have written to you sooner but I was out of paper but I was in the town of new bern to day and got a supply of it this leaves me enjoying the best of health and I hope if these few lines will reach your hands they will find you enjoying the same good blessing I have no news to communicate to you at presant The health of our Company is verry good they aint but four or five sick in our Company besides them that is at home Mr W B Monroe got back last Saturday night and you / cant tell how glad I was to see him [music note] the yankas keeps comeing up nuce River to wards New bern they tride to burn down the Railrode Bridge last saturday night it was set I suppose a bout one oh clock. the malitia was a garding the bridge for the last two or three weeks but they put us to garding it a gain I dont put much faith in the malitia that is in new bern for I think they is a bout one third of them is yankes

 

you cant imagine how glad I was to see oald Mr John M^cNeill it made me think a bout oald Reedy Branch where I have often been and has spent some of my happiest hours for all I am in new bern my heart is in oald Moor County turn over to the other 

 

Mr Hugh M M^cDonald has got nearly well again he has been in the hospital two month he got back to the camp last Saturday evening and he looks verry well S Le is well and harty I saw Mr James M^cLeod to day and he is well and harty and also Mr Noh Seaton an he is as pretty as ever. We have to go to work to morow on a fort I think if the yankes dont mind by the time they get to Newbern we will be prepared for them I dont think that general Branch will do like the general they had at Roanoke they said that he sold the Island for thirty five thousand dollars if that be true I would like to have him tide to a stake and I had my oald musket loaded and I would not want / better for than to stand off thirty or forty yards and take a shot at him. they wants us to inlist during the war but I dont think I will till our time is out but they was a good many of our company has enlisted M P N Blue and Duneau A Thompson has join for the war I must bring this uninterresting letter to a close give my love and respect to all inquiring friends and except the same for your self No more at presant

                       

So good by      your friend Neill A Patterson

 

Yes I am far from the land

I know

upon the

battle field

My arms wherever

Im called

to go

I shall wield

Write Soon      Your Friend

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