Old Dr Balch has just come in full of fun as usual. Your Uncle Tom was up here yesterday but has gone home what his business was I dont know but suppose he is fishing for some office Tom Kingston was with him there is visitors in camp all the time When we were out on dress parade yesterday we saw a live Brigadier General he was along bearded gray headed good looking old coger. we have better bread now than we did when you was here When you write to me I want you / to write all the particulars tell me how things are going on generally. let me know whether John has hauled Smiths any wood yet or not I want that bill of wood filled promptly I dont care so much about any other Tell Ma to send those two calves that she has to the farm and have old Butes or Barr to mark them for her. has Bill Barr left the farm yet let me know how the filley works I have got those socks of Colby he said he forgot who they were for and put them in his trunk Your Father got aletter from George yesterday he is all right he was in the fight at corinth two days and run the enemy forty miles he sent word to me / to come down there and I could get into afight with the secesh every day if I wanted to. I am going to send you anice picture in this letter when you get it take an iron and press it out straight again. Tell me how Eddy is getting along and if his hand is much sore where it was burned Tell Ewel to take my wagon and paint it up and sell it and pay himself out of the wagon. tell him to write to me. John Floyd is in the hospital he is verry sick he looks verry bad. Give Mr Taylor my good will and that if he should find an idle time we would like to have him come up here on avisit and preach for us

Write soon Your affectionate

                                    Husband H. B. Drake

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