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                        Camp Mackey May the 2^nd 62

 

                                    Dear sister

I recon when you get this you will think I am gone crasy or something I write so much it Does seem like I want write a letter every Day but I don’t get many from home my intention for writing to Day is I want you to make mine an sams uniform for us. we did not get the uniforms they spoke of before I left I cant tell the reason why it was but they have gotten some roswell cloth from the factory to make them of we have had our measures taken and sent to Lagrange to forbs to bee cut the thread and buttons will bee there too as for the triming I dont no how it will bee the pants I surpose will have a blue cord Down the seam of them the/coat I surpose you can get a patron of it I cant tell you when to send after it exactly I dont no when the cloth will get there but by the time you get this it will bee there I recon every thing is paid for our clothing money is there to pay for it. well Mollie to change the subject we hear this morning our men are fighting in richmond va now and Driving the foe back again to ard their one land a gain the loss is great on both sides I think we will gain the victory at last we have not heard from Jackson in a few Days but he is Doing his part no Doubt of that he is in mariland Distroying the enemies railroads and takeing them as he goes the last account of him he was on the baltimore and ohio railroad we surpose he was going to baltimore he is the first to invade the enemys soil per haps they will find out/the in vasion feels and quit our land an be wiling to make peace like whitefolks I think they had better Do it while thir names are up or my notion is they will get badly whiped yet for the last few days they have been Defeated on evry side on land an water we had two guns of flying artilery whiped two gun boats the other Day in southcarolina it seems that providense is on our side then a gain we look at our people and it seems that people coud not bee any worse than ours then then it may bee like abrahams case in asking the lord to spair sardom and gomarowe though they were Distroyed he may spair us for a few he said he spair them for a few I think we have some good people in our lad I hope we may gain the victory in at last and our/people may return to their homes with a great day and live in peace well Mary I recon you are geting tired of this letter I will close as soon as I can since I have been writeing I have received a letter from brother george and Lizzy I was verry glad to hear from them I cant write to them this evening but will soon as I have nothing else to Do I am on the sicklist from a musqito bite they have bit me lots but it is the worst I ever had it is worse than the rising I had when I went home it is on my left rist my arm is swollen half way to my elbo sam is sorter sick brother Jef is on picket to day and wont get back till 12 oclock to morrowe he is well tip is well and all the boys from our settlement I will close I remain your loveing brother till Death            John W. Hodnett

 

Ps        write to me as soon as you get this and tell me how all the folks are geting a long in the settlement and how every thing is geting a lon in general

your Brother till Death my love to all

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