Camp on Big Piney Dec 12 1863

 

Dear Frind

I recieved yur letter and was glad to hear from you you mention of some recruits coming thare was twelve come but martin and Joseph Baker and Washing Ellis has gon down the river Gorge Holdrige has come to the Compney that all the won I do know out of the twelve poor old mart wont like that when he find he has gon the wrong road but I gets the comanding officer can get them Back if he will try the officers are trying to get ous to enlist again I know of won thay wont get that me I think uncle same get three years / out of me that is anuf at a time But thare is lots of the Boys will gow in fore three years longer thay get Big pay now that renilist I want to Be afree man again be fore I gow in again our Cap told ous that wee get musterd out of the service next June how dus little chaney get along I herd that thay are puty ruf boys him and waldon thay duse as thay plese and swear I am sorey to hear that cuse I thought good deal of that little felow due thay fight now as thay youster abot Aples If thay was down here thay cood get anuf to last them the year rond I have seen the grond coverd with them be cause the menfokes was to lacy to geather them thay down here the wemane have to / do all the work and the men sit around and look on here the wiams is all big and the men is poor and crawny be cause thay dont do nothing thay dont do anuf to keep thare blad in sercle and the men and the woman dont know nothing thay dont have now chouing like thay do I was out here the other night coon hunting and sop to a house and wee got atalking I ask her whare she sent her children to choul and she said she never sent them I laft the oldis boy she had was abot fort teen year old and when you get a talking with them and you dont haping to under stand them the first time you ask them again and thay will say witch and wearas out here be fore you sins that thay talk / youse here some of them dont know what year it is

 

            So good bie fore this time

 

            love to all

                                    John Hawley

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